As the summer comes to a close, the schools in the area are preparing to open its doors for learning and a fresh start with students.
Shamong School District
Students returning after a long summer will have a handful of programs to look forward to as the school year nears.
Full day kindergarten with balanced literacy program will include Readers’ Workshop, a program featuring read aloud, guided reading, shared reading and independent reading. Word study, writers’ workshop featuring modeled writing, interactive writing, shared writing and independent writing will all be part of the program, according to superintendent of schools Delores Szymanski. FDK will be implementing related arts classes including visual and performing arts, library, physical education and health, world language and technology.
Eighth grade will begin a new algebra I program and a Spanish program for the seventh and eighth graders will be used. The Lenape Regional High School District is currently implementing both programs
Realignment of the social studies program for grades fifth and sixth will now teach world cultures. And the seventh and eighth grades will teach U.S. history. Implementation of a basic skills math program at IMS to complement the basic skills language arts program will also be put in place.
“These programs offer extra support for students in a small group setting who are experiencing some difficulty in these areas,” said Szymanski.
The current curriculum will be seeing some modifications as well in all of the schools as well.
“We are in the process of aligning our entire curriculum to the 2009 NJ CCCS and the 2010 English Language Arts Common Core Standards in kindergarten through eighth grade and 2010 Mathematics Common Core Standards in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Grades six through eight will align their mathematics curriculum to the 2010 Common Core this year and according to state guidelines implement next year,” said Szymanski.
The school will implement kindergarten through eighth grade English Language Arts state curriculum that has been written and aligned to the 2010 Common Core Standards. Additionally, kindergarten through eighth grade social studies curriculum was aligned to the 2009 NJCCCS and in grades six through eight it also aligned with the 2010 Common Core ELA standards in writing and research, according to Syzmanski. Financial literacy curriculum was written for grades K-8 that will be taught during math and social studies classes. Curriculum for the Full Day Kindergarten Related Arts programs was written and grades five through eight comprehensive health and physical education curriculum was aligned to the 2009 NJCCCS.
Seneca High School
Seneca High School received physical changes in addition to curricular changes.
The visitor bleachers were renovated and are ready for the upcoming football season.
Healthy eating initiatives will again be meeting criteria in an effort to keep students on track with a healthy diet. “My Plate” standards for students will continue to meet the standards.
“We comply with all federal and state standards, we are always expanding healthy food options. We are implementing the USDA ‘My Plate’ five components for each lunch,” said superintendent of schools, Dr. Carol Birnbohm.
The requirements include age-appropriate calorie minimums and maximums, larger servings of vegetables and fruits, a wider variety of vegetables, including dark green and red or orange vegetables and legumes. The plan also includes fat-free or 1 percent milk, at least 51 percent whole grains, protein servings at a maximum of 2.4 ounces, a maximum of 10 percent saturated fat and less sodium.
Students can look forward to the return of the One Book, One School, with the reading of The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, which can be purchased online. The No Place for Hate program, an initiative created for activities to support all students and allow everyone to feel appreciated; will be in effect according to Birnbohm. The fall will also kick-off with new posters highlighting student leaders as “upstanders” and not “bystanders” when witnessing inappropriate or derogatory comments in support of the LRHSD Step Up and ID HIB program.
“The bullying policy was developed to align with the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights of New Jersey. The investigation procedure is meticulously outlined on pages nine, 10, and 11 of the policy. In addition to the policy we have a number of initiatives to fulfill our school district mission encouraging an appreciation for diversity and individual differences creating a school climate conducive to all students,” Birnbohm said.
The 21st Century Learner Pilot will be implemented with iPads featured in the classroom. “Various teachers were trained over the summer on how to incorporate the iPads as they develop 21st Century learning skills,” Birnbohm said.
Additional changes to the curriculum are currently being worked on, and are ready for the upcoming school year.
“We are in year 2 of a 7-year curriculum revision cycle to develop all curriculums using the Understanding by Design model. In 2011 we wrote and received Board of Education approval for 24 different courses. This fall we will be implementing those new curriculums for algebra I, geometry, biology, U.S. history I, and first year world languages, to name a few,” Birnbohm said.
Giving back to the community is important, as well, with numerous projects being implement throughout the district.
“The school district is highly involved in volunteerism and community service. Over the past two years each high school coordinated a Senior Day of Service where senior students are dispatched to over 90 different locations across the eight communities performing some type of community service for that day,” Birnbohm said. “In addition, we collaborated with Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey conducting a clothing drive competition that accumulated over 25,000 pounds of donations and look forward to participating with Goodwill again.”
There are plans to continue focus on programs already in motion in the school.
“Defy the Issue, a drug and alcohol free campaign, continues to be the focus of student-to-student presentations both within our schools and with the middle schools in the eight townships which we serve. Drug Squad at Seneca did big community presentation already, will maintain program with smaller group student presentations,” Birnbohm said.
The first day of classes for all students is Sept. 5.
