Many
changes await returning students
Sunday, September
05, 2004 • The Star-Ledger
As the nearly 48,000
students in public schools in Warren and Sussex counties
return to classes, they will find new programs, new
buildings and new staff. Here are some of the changes that
will greet them:
WARREN
COUNTY DISTRICTS
Andover
Regional School District
Grades: K-8
What's new: Voters will be
asked to approve a referendum on Dec. 14 for the renovation
and possible addition to the Florence M. Burd School. The
cost of the referendum is expected to be decided later this
month. A new soccer field and new field hockey field are
being built at the grades 4-8 Long Pond School and should be
ready by spring. Plans are in the works for a School Store
at the Long Pond School. At the K-3 Florence M. Burd School,
a new climbing wall has been added.
Days off: Oct. 11,
Columbus Day; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec.
24-31; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 21-22,
winter recess; March 25 and 28, Good Friday break; April
25-29, spring break; May 30. Last day is June
16.
Board meetings: First and
third Tuesdays,* 7:30 p.m. at the Long Pond
School.
Alpha
Borough
Grades: K-8
What's new: Chief School
Administrator Mary Kildow started July 1, coming to the
school system from Totowa where she was a principal. Alpha
has a new computer lab with 25 new systems. Several cultural
enrichment assemblies are planned this year, on dance,
puppetry and instrumental music. The school business office
has relocated from the Alpha Borough Hall to a classroom at
the school.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec.
24-Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1, spring recess; May
30. Last day is June 21.
Board meetings: Third
Thursday, 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
Belvidere
Grades: K-12
What's new: A new Spanish
program for grades K-6 in both its elementary schools.
In-district services will be available for autistic children
in all grades. The roof is being repaired at the Oxford
Street School. Belvidere High School has a new football
coach this year, Larry Dubiel, who came to the district from
Warren Hills Regional.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec.
24-Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1, spring recess; May
9, teacher in- service; May 30. Last day is June
17.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the high school
Blairstown
Township
Grades: K-6
What's new: Afull-time
position for an occupational therapist (Bonnie Robinson)
that replaces district contracting on an hourly rate;
piloting new math program at three different grade levels as
part of the New Jersey Statewide Systemic Initiative to
improve math instruction; incorporating literary circles in
a strategy for improving reading comprehension; formal
computer instruction for grades 3-4.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24-Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day;
Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1, spring
recess; May 30; June 3, teacher in-service. Last day is June
17.
School board meetings:
Third Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at the school.
Franklin
Township
Grades:
Pre-K-6
What's new: A new
handicapped accessible playground is being used for the
first full year, with a dedication planned for the spring.
Benches, engraved bricks and landscaping are still being
added. The music department has been expanded with the
addition of instructor Elaine Ciba, who teaches one day a
week. The district has added a program piloted last year, a
morning general education pre-school (at a nominal
fee).
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24-Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day;
Feb. 18-21, Presidents weekend; March 25-30, spring recess;
May 30. Last day is June 14.
Board meetings: Third
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m. at the school
Frelinghuysen
Township
Grades:
Pre-K-6
What's new: Chief School
Administrator Dwight Klett is one of the newest additions to
the one- school district. Before coming to Frelinghuysen,
Klett was principal at an elementary school in Elizabeth and
language arts supervisor for the Keansburg school district.
In an initiative with the other North Warren cluster
schools, the district is piloting some hands-on,
inquiry-based math programs.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day/in-service; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March
25-April 1, spring recess; May 30. Last day is June
15.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. at the school.
Great
Meadows Regional
Grades: K-8
What's new: Fifth-graders
will remain at the elementary level, instead of the middle
school where they were last year. The district made the
change to keep students of a similar maturity together. The
middle school will now house grades six to eight. Each
school is getting or has a new principal. Kathleen Koop, a
teacher in charge from Harding School District, is the new
principal at Central School, while Ernest Batha, an
elementary teacher from Franklin Township, Hunterdon County,
will be starting as principal at Liberty School on Sept. 16.
The board of education plans to hire a principal for the
middle school on Sept. 13. A new K-8 Spanish program has
been introduced, as has an after- school
program.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day/in-service; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March
25-28, Easter recess; April 25-29, spring recess; May 30.
Last day is June 13.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Mondays, 7:30 p.m. at the middle school.
Greenwich
Township
Grades: K-8
What's new: The district's
two schools, Greenwich School and Stewartsville School, will
continue to focus on math and literacy. A new hands-on,
problem solving math program is in place for grades one to
six, a new reading program is set for first to third
graders, and a new science program is being introduced in
grades six to eight. Textbooks have been updated and a new
wireless mobile lab has been expanded, with 25 laptop
computers for each school. The use of interactive white
boards is another technology upgrade.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec. 24
- Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1, spring recess; May
30. Last day is June 23.
Board meetings: Last
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Greenwich School
Hackettstown
Grades: K-12
What's new: The high
school has finished a nine-classroom addition of science
labs, art rooms, a computer lab and more lockers. A
1,200-seat gymnasium with more lockers should be completed
by the start of winter sports. The high school will begin
its random drug-testing program for students participating
in co- curricular activities and sports and students who
park on school property. The school is the first in Warren
County and one of few in the state to enforce random drug
testing.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24-31; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day/in-service; Jan. 26, in-service; Feb. 21, Presidents
Day; March 25-28, Easter recess; April 25-29, spring break;
May 27-30, Memorial Day break; June 16, in-service day. Last
day is June 17.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Wednesdays, 7:45 p.m. in the high school.
Harmony
Township
Grades: K-8
What's new: The school's
newly completed walking track will open this year. Heart
rate monitors have been purchased for students to use, and
the district will be stressing healthy habits and physical
conditioning in a program called Creating Harmony. This
summer, the district renovated the fire sprinklers in the
oldest section of the building. A distance learning program,
to bring educational programs and educators "live" to the
school in a form of teleconferencing, has also been added.
Teachers attended a one-week program this summer at the
Jacques Cousteau Center in Tuckerton to prepare for teaching
a Marine Activities Resource and Education program. As part
of this, the school will host an Ocean Week and an Ocean
Month on aquatic life.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec.
24-31; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-30, spring recess; May 30.
Last day is June 16.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Mondays, 7:30 p.m. at the school.
Hope
Township
Grades: Pre-K -
8
What's new: A new
playground with handicapped accessible sidewalks, funded
through a community committee, will have two more phases of
construction. New flooring was added in four of the school's
oldest classrooms and a large open room was divided into two
classes for use by seventh- and eighth-graders. Thirteen new
classroom computers and three new office computers have been
purchased and the district has a new Web page/Internet
provider. In place of one extended kindergarten class with
24 students, a morning and afternoon kindergarten class with
12 students each has been added. A preschool class for
disabled children will run a half hour longer this year,
while a gifted and talented math program for seventh- and
eighth- graders will now take place after school.
Superintendent Alfred Annunziata is also acting as
principal, due to the resignation of Principal Jeanna
Velechko.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1,
spring recess; May 30. Last day is June 17.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Tuesdays, 7 p.m. at the school.
Knowlton
Township
Grades: K-6
What's new: Two new
faculty have been hired -- Jennifer Camiletti will be
teaching sixth grade and Chris Derring will be teaching
physical education. He is Knowlton's first male physical
education teacher since 1981. The school is piloting a new
math program, along with other schools in the North Warren
cluster. In the spring, the district will hold an expanded
Ocean Night, with six teachers now trained in the Marine
Activities and Resources in Education program.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1,
spring recess; May 30. Last day is June 17.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Mondays , 7 p.m. at the school.
Lopatcong
Township
Grades K-8, plus a
preschool class for disabled children
What's new: The elementary
school has an upgraded computer lab and classes have been
updated with newer computers. Middle school students are
starting their second year in a new facility.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec. 24
- Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-29, spring recess; April
28, in-service; May 30. Last day is June 17.
Board meetings: Second
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at the middle school
Mansfield
Township
Grades: K-6
What's new: A gifted and
talented program, "Math, etc.," has been introduced for
fourth- through sixth-graders. Faster access to the Internet
is available through an upgraded network, and teachers will
be designing the Web site to include homework. A new lunch
program features nutritious lunches and snacks. Eight new
staff members have been hired.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day/in-service; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March
25-April 1, spring recess; May 6, in-service; May 27-30,
Memorial Day holiday. Last day is June 17.
Board meetings: Third
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at the school.
North
Warren Regional
Grades: 7-12
What's new: Boys and girls
lacrosse will be added. New practice fields for the football
team are being used on property that had been purchased for
future growth. The district is undergoing a special
education self-assessment, part of a state monitoring
program. Twelve new staff have been hired and a new vice
principal, Lou Sylvester, was appointed.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day/in-service; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March
25-April 1, spring recess; May 6, in-service; May 30. Last
day is June 17.
Board meetings: First and
third Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at the high school.
Oxford
Township
Grades: K-8
What's new: Teachers are
moving into new classrooms, now that the district's $9.3
million addition and renovation has been completed. The
project included the construction of eight classrooms,
science, art and music rooms, a new gym, and a media center.
The school has increased the number of computers available
to students, upgraded software and hardware, and will be
providing staff training in technology. Through a language
arts grant, the district is inviting a series of children's
authors to the school. Another grant will allow the district
to continue to offer evening computer technology classes to
the community.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec. 24
- Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-April 1, spring recess; May
30. Last day is June 21.
Board meetings: Second
Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the school.
Phillipsburg
Grades: K-12
What's new: The high
school will offer an expanded industrial technology program
featuring new TV/media-related curriculum. A new K-5 science
program started last year will be continued using "modular
kits" and hands-on projects. A K-5 world language program
cut last year has been reinstated, allowing grades 1-5 to
learn Spanish. Each student in K-5 will be developing a
portfolio of work that teachers will review each year to
keep up- to-date on a student's progress. The school is also
back to a fully staffed social service department this fall,
with a guidance counselor and social worker in each of its
four elementary schools.
The district has added 10
temporary classroom units on the high school's campus to
handle an increase in student population. The district board
of education is gearing up to offer a referendum this winter
on a proposal to build a new high school. Preliminary
estimates set the cost of the new building at about $73
million. The project would be paid for by state funding,
with the exception of additional community-oriented features
under consideration by the board. The district's existing
77-year-old high school on Hillcrest Boulevard will start
the school year nearly 600 students over
capacity.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec. 24
- Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Feb. 18-21,
Presidents Day weekend; March 25-28, spring recess; March
29-30, in-service; May 30-31, Memorial Day break. Last day
is June 17.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Monday, 7:30 p.m. at Phillipsburg Middle
School.
Pohatcong
Township
Grades: K-8
What's new: The school
will be offering "Study Island," a Web site that helps kids
improve their state test scores. The site will allow
students in grades 3, 4 and 8 to do study activities and
take practice tests on their home computers. The school is
expanding its Character Education Program. Students will
focus on one character trait per month such as
responsibility, which will be the focus of the month of
September. In January, the school will continue Marine
Activities Resources and Education, a marine life program
sponsored by the Jacques Cousteau center in Tuckerton. This
year the district is planning to build three sports fields
with donated materials.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 11, in-
service; March 25-April 1, spring recess; May 30. Last day
is June 16.
Board meetings: Third
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. at the school
Warren
County Special Services School District
Grades: Pre-K
-12
What's new: An outdoor
education program with multiple sessions is being offered
for the first time, with field trip topics like astronomy,
native Americans, small animals and fishing. The district is
offering more information on its Web site and going to more
paperless use of information as part of its technology
upgrades.
Days off: Students follow
the district calendar of the school they attend.
Board meetings: Last
Tuesday, 7 p.m., in the administration building of the
Warren County Technical School.
Warren
County Technical School
Grades: 9-12
What's new: A math and
special needs teacher were hired to fill vacancies and an
English teacher was hired to fill a new position. Only about
30 of the district's 400 students are part-time between
shared districts.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day; Jan. 26, in-service; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day
weekend; March 25-April 1, spring recess; May 30. Last day
is June 13.
Board meetings: Third
Wednesday, 8 p.m. at the school (exception is Oct.
4)
Warren
Hills Regional
Grades: 7-12
What's new: The district
will start a pilot program allowing graduating high school
seniors who have passed the High School Proficiency
Assessment to enroll in an alternative activity for part of
their senior year. This can be an apprenticeship in a career
they are interested in or college work. The district will
offer a referendum Sept. 28 for the construction of an
48,000-square-foot addition to the high school and a
7,400-square-foot addition to the middle school. The project
has been estimated at $43 million, $13 million of which
would be covered by state funding. Plans also call for
upgrades to sports facilities. A new approach to middle
school language arts will emphasize grammar and writing
skills. The district will welcome 30 new staff
members.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec. 24
- Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day/in-service;
Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 25-29, spring
recess; April 11, in-service; May 30. Last day is June
17.
Board meetings: first and
third Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at the district
office.
Washington
Borough
Grades: K-6
What's new: The district
is looking forward to opening its new gym and recently
refurbished cafeteria for grades 3-6 at Memorial School.
This will be the first year students will not have to eat
lunch in their classrooms, because the school's former gym
has been revamped as a kitchen and cafeteria area.
Construction of the gym was recently completed and the
facility will house up to seven classes each day. A
forensics tournament will be held during April, featuring
debating, drama presentations, acting, and poetry readings
involving kids from schools all over the county.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day; Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 25- April 1,
spring recess; May 27, in- service; May 30. Last day is June
10.
Board meetings: Second and
fourth Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial
School.
Washington
Township
Grades: K-6
What's new: All grades at
the schools will start a new science program this year that
is inquiry- based. Students will be doing hands-on
activities and experiential learning, with less lecture and
book work.
Days off: Tomorrow; Oct.
11, county in-service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov.
25-26; Dec. 24 - Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.
Day/in-service; Feb. 21, Presidents Day; March 25-April 1,
spring recess; May 27, in-service; May 30. Last day is June
21.
Board meetings: Check web
site for dates, meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Brass Castle
School.
White
Township
Grades: K-8
What's new: The district
has received $340,000 in state grants to bring new
technology to students, including laptop computers for
third- through fifth-graders and "Smart Boards," an
electronic blackboard, to improve language arts and literacy
skills. Included under the grant package is $100,000 for
after-school technology classes for students and the
community. The district is waiting for word on a third
technology grant that would bring hand-held computers to the
district for use in grades 6-8.
Days off: Oct. 11, county
in- service; Nov. 4-5, NJEA convention; Nov. 25-26; Dec. 24
- Jan. 2; Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day/in-service;
Feb. 18-21, Presidents Day weekend; March 25- April 1,
spring recess; May 30. Last day is June 15.
Board meetings: Third
Monday, 7:30 p.m. at the school.
*Meeting dates are
estimates. Please check with your school board offices to
find out the specific days that meetings will be
held.
Copyright 2004 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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