Schools

Fort Lee Middle School Publication Recognized Among Country's Best

Lewis F. Cole Middle School's Bias Busters group also recently participated in the New Jersey Apartment Association's Holiday Party for Underprivileged Children.

For the past 40 years, Intermedia, an art and literary magazine created by 7th and 8th grade students at Fort Lee’s Lewis F. Cole Middle School for the entire student body, has been submitted to Columbia University for judging in various categories by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). 

The school’s 2011-12 edition is no exception, according to one of two Intermedia advisors, Nina Anderson, an Art teacher at the middle school, who works with media specialist Mrs. Spahn to advise the students who create the publication.

This year, CSPA graded more that 1,400 submissions representing all 50 states, according to Anderson, who said Fort Lee’s 2011-2012 edition was selected as one of the top publications in the country.

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In addition to earning a Gold Medalist Award, the magazine will be awarded the coveted Crown Award, the highest award offered by CSPA, Anderson said, making Intermedia one of just four middle school publications in the country to receive Crown Awards for their 2011-12 issues.

Crown Award finalists will be presented with the award at the CSPA’s 88th Annual Convention in March 2013 at Columbia.

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Intermedia includes original artwork and literary pieces created solely by students; work completed both in school and at home may to be included in Intermedia, according to Anderson.

Bias Busters Bring Holiday Cheer to Underprivileged Kids

On December 18, members of the Lewis F. Cole’s Bias Busters group attended the New Jersey Apartment Association's (NJAA) Holiday Party for Underprivileged Children at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus.

More than 1,000 children took part, throughout the day, in activities like dancing, face painting, arts and crafts. The were also treated to lunch, snacks and cookies.

Characters including Spongebob Squarepants, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Scooby Doo, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Dora the Explorer, and, of course, Santa Claus brought smiles to the children's faces, said Anderson, who is also a faculty advisor to the Bias Busters group, along with Kathleen Larson and Mark Adams.

“The Bias Busters danced and played games with the children to ensure that they had a fantastic time,” Anderson said. “The children ended the day's festivities with a ‘toy line,’ where they were permitted to choose and take home one of over 1,500 donated toys.”

The NJAA commended the Bias Busters for their selflessness and attentiveness throughout the event and presented the group with a commemorative plaque, according to Anderson.
Bias Busters is a select group of students dedicated to preventing disharmony and bias behavior at the middle school, while helping to maintain cooperation and unity within the student body.

The group facilitates mediations between students, when issues arise of a bias nature, in addition to hosting an annual cyber-bullying assembly featuring Detective Jeff Angermeyer of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Other activities sponsored by Bias Busters include Feature Teacher Presentations, Mix It Up at Lunch Day, a Multicultural Luncheon, and charitable "Dress Down" days.


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