The Haddonfield school district has a lot yet to come this school year. As school years go from September to June, Haddonfield schools have had most of their plans for the school year prepared.
However, not all can be prepared for. One of those things was the possible bond referendum the district has been discussing for the past few months, where the district would accept state ROD grants to pay for 40 percent of approved school improvements. The most significant question that might be on residents’ mind is, what is happening with the referendum?
As of now, the Haddonfield Board of Education has made the decision to not pursue a bond referendum in March, according to Superintendent Richard Perry. School board members have been discussing how to approach the district’s needs for building maintenance along with state grant opportunities. These discussions will continue with public input at future Board of Education meetings.
For the 2014–2015 school year, the focus of the school district has been creativity and critical thinking for student-centered learning. According to Central Elementary School Principal Shannon Simkus, this kind of learning happens in classrooms each and every day in Haddonfield and also extends beyond the school day through extracurricular programs.
One of those programs is Haddonfield Memorial High School’s Odyssey of the Mind. The Odyssey of the Mind Team will compete again in 2015 after winning the Lighthouse Regional and State competitions last year. According to Haddonfield Memorial High School Principal Chuck Klaus, the team has been practicing since early November and will compete at the Regional competition March 14. In addition, Haddonfield will host the State Finals for the first time. On April 11, dozens of Regional qualifying teams of K-12 students will attempt to qualify for World Finals to be held at Michigan State University.
According to Simkus, Odyssey of the Mind, Destination Imagination and Science Olympiads are all programs that challenge and inspire Haddonfield students to have fun, take risks and frame challenges while incorporating science, technology, education and mathematics, as well as the arts. Students learn teamwork, patience, flexibility, persistence, collaboration, communication and innovation. Through this, they become 21st-century learners and acquire the skills to succeed as effective citizens, workers and leaders.
As a district, Haddonfield will continue its push for technological excellence. In 2014, Perry was among 110 school leaders from across the nation invited to a White House summit on technological advancements in the classroom. In 2015, he and other invitees committed to mentoring neighboring school systems.
“Technology is the great equalizer, and a tool that can be used in instruction to motivate student learning and promote student innovation, creativity and leadership skills for a demanding and challenging 21st century world economy,” Perry said. “This inaugural Superintendents Summit was the first step in President Obama’s and Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s Vision for Education for the nation, and Haddonfield will play a critical role in making this vision become a reality.”
Haddonfield has brought technology into classrooms in varied ways, according to Perry, including: adding a Mobile Apps Design course at the high school; remodeling the high school media center to feature computer-focused learning; implementing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) opportunities at the middle school; creating a Digital Citizenship course at the middle school to teach students how to appropriately and responsibly use technology in academic and recreational settings; arranging significant teacher training in technology at all elementary schools; and outlining curriculum “maps” that detail what students should understand about technology and how they should be able to demonstrate mastery.
“I and the other top superintendents in the nation were directed to develop strategic plans and outstanding, technology- based, STEAM programs that we will share with other schools,” Perry said.
STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) programs can enhance critical thinking and cross-curricular creativity by pairing disciplines such as physics and engineering with the arts. According to Perry, the Haddonfield district plans to implement STEAM programs and develop related professional development opportunities that can be offered to other school leaders. Both efforts will put Haddonfield on the path of becoming what Perry calls a Lighthouse District for this region.
In other news:
• On Jan. 19, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to service to others, students at Haddonfield Memorial High School will have the opportunity to spend the day volunteering at various venues with the Day of Service.
The event is structured by teachers Karen Sprinsky and Christa Wesley, along with members of the PTA.
• The 23rd Annual Charity Volleyball Marathon will take place in the B Gym at Haddonfield Memorial High School on Jan. 30. More than 200 high school students, along with a host of parent and staff volunteers, will create teams.
Students will work with teacher Ron Smith to designate a charity to benefit from donations related to this traditional event. Past events have resulted in proceeds of roughly $20,000 per year.
• On March 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14, the Haddonfield Memorial High School Drama Club will perform Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.” Since its 1934 debut, this musical has engaged audiences who are captivated by the music and tap dancing. Students started their work in December under the direction of Matthew Didonato. Ticket information will be posted on the HMHS website at www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/highschool/ closer to the performance dates.
Edit: In the Jan. 7 paper edition of The Haddonfield Sun the “New Year brings new look at referendum for school district” article states “As of now, the Haddonfield Board of Education has not made the decision to pursue a bond referendum in March, according to Superintendent Richard Perry.” The sentence is supposed to say “As of now, the Haddonfield Board of Education has made the decision to not pursue a bond referendum in March, according to Superintendent Richard Perry.” This article has been changed to reflect this correction.
