THE BRAVE NEWSthe Newton Public Schools Quarterly Newsletter

December 2013

Board of Education57 Trinity StreetNewton, NJ 07860

973-383-7392www.newtonnj.org

I N S I D E2. Responsive Classroom

2. Week of Respect

3. An Autumn To Remember

4. Did You Know?

Dr. G. Kennedy Greene Superintendent

Donna C. SnyderBusiness Administrator/

Board Secretary

Jim Tasker, PrincipalNewton High School

Jeff Waldron, PrincipalHalsted Middle School

Karen Perez, PrincipalMerriam Avenue School

Project Launch Newton Blasts Off to a Great Start

The Newton Public Schools are proud to partner with Project Self-Sufficiency on a new community initiative that is making a significant difference in the lives of our children and their families. Project Launch Newton is a federally-funded grant that provides academically-focused, afterschool programming for 4th through 8th grade students at the Merriam and Halsted schools. The program has been up and running for almost two months now with 110 students attending regularly. Feedback from children and parents has been very positive.

Tri-District Consortium To Develop New Strategic Plan

The Tri-District Consortium of Andover Regional, Green Township and Newton Public Schools is looking for public input as we begin to create a new Tri-District Strategic Plan.

Our initial five-year plan will come to a close this year, and the TDC has made it an objective to create a new one for 2014-2019. The mission statement has had minor revisions. The next step is to consider changes to the current goals. The revised mission and current goals are printed below to provide community members the opportunity to suggest changes. Mission

The Andover Regional, Green Township and Newton Boards of Education, through an alliance known as the Tri-District Consortium, are focused on ensuring the achievement of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards through an enriched educational environment for all students.Current Goals

• A common curriculum for each core content area: “Three 8th grades become one 9th grade”• A unified professional development plan designed by our combined staffs• Cooperative services for all students• Continued exploration of all areas relating to joint/shared services and facilities ensuring fiscal

responsibility

We have received approval to participate in the state’s Interdistrict School Choice Program for 2014-15. We were granted only 13 seats of the 50 we requested, and these have been assigned to Halsted and the High School. A DOE representative confirmed that they are approving only a fraction of district seat requests in the name of sustainability and to ensure the choice program is successful. The School Choice profile and parent information center have been placed prom-inently on our district website. Forms are available there for parents to inform their resident districts and apply for student enrollment with us. December 2 is the initial deadline for both, and late applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis if space is available.

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Newton Joins School Choice Program

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Spotlight on...Merriam Avenue School

Responsive ClassroomMerriam Avenue School believes in the Responsive

Classroom approach to learning. The Responsive Classroom approach creates a safe, challenging, and joyful classroom and school-wide climate for all children. It offers teachers tools and techniques for creating a learning community that is nurturing, respectful, and full of learning. Teachers who use the Responsive Classroom approach understand that all chil-dren’s needs—academic, social, emotional, and physical—are important. The teacher creates an environment that responds to all of these needs so that children can do their best learning.

So, what does this look like in our first and second grade class-rooms? Early in the year, students worked diligently to create classroom rules to create the best learning environment. This process allows them to own their learning environment and to be responsible for their choices. Rules are developed together, such as, “Take care of our own learning. Take care of each other. Take care of our things.”

Each of these rules reflect how everyone at Merriam Avenue School agrees that “showing respect” is a very important way for children and grownups to live their lives. At school each day, we are commit-ted to showing respect for others and also to having the degree of respect neces-sary to maintain responsible, interactive learning classroom environments.

Daily morning meetings foster active participation through discussion, games, and group activities - creating a safe environment for children to explore and respond to ideas. They practice active listening skills and learn to refine their thoughts and communicate effectively. Often, a problem is presented and children discover the value of coopera-tive problem-solving, conflict-resolution, or expressions of friendship and good sportsmanship.

Important social skills are practiced, such as making eye- contact when speaking to someone, delivering a friendly, yet firm, handshake, listening well when someone is speaking, making appropriate comments, or asking thoughtful questions. These values

MAS PTO Continues To Be Active Here are a few highlights:

• The Back to School Picnic

• The Book Fair

• Trunk or Treat

• Character Education Assemblies

• Harlem Wizards

• Holiday Gift Shop

We can’t thank the PTO enough for the work they do. Their time and effort makes Merriam Avenue School a great place and the staff and students appreciate every-thing they do.

Week of Respect

During the week of October 7th Merriam Avenue School celebrated a “Week of Respect.” Kindergarten through 2nd grade students were treated to an assembly, “Operation Superpower,” sponsored by our PTO. Throughout the week, students participated in engaging discussions within their

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A grant evaluator recently remarked, “...the program is off to a tremendous start and it is evident that the students are already benefiting academically and social-emotionally. With the program exhibiting such early success, it is evident that the program will have a significant impact on its participants.”

The academic focus of Project Launch is on science, technology, engineering, and math - also known as STEM. Students have the opportunity to get help with homework and learn new things from experts in the field. Students do hands-on, real-life activities to create their own community, building it from the ground up

using the knowledge they’ve gained to solve actual problems. Field trips have already been taken to the planetarium at the County College of Morris, Buehler Science Center, Pocono Environmental Center, and Intrepid Air and Space Museum. We look forward to continuing to provide this much-needed resource to our families.

classrooms and even got to dress up for “The Golden Rule,” peace, love, diversity and tolerance. Newton High School students per-formed a rendition of “Do Unto Otters,” a book about manners. The week ended with an exciting performance by The Marvelous Mutts who helped kick off our school wide community service project to benefit Father John’s Animal House. The project was a huge success and we collected a large number of items!

During the week of October 21st, we observed “Violence Prevention Week.” In Second Step lessons students learned how to look at a person’s face and body for clues to help them understand how someone is feeling (empathy). 2nd graders partic-ipated in a discussion about bullying and kindness using the book, “Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Deal With Bullies.”

Students in grades 3-5 played a version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”

that tested their knowledge of bullying vs. conflict. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act was discussed. PTO chairpersons also participated in a Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying workshop presented by Mrs. Iuliani.

Newton High School completed a fall athletics season unlike any other in school history: The boys soccer team led by captains Brett Conrads, Frank Heter, Leo Recalde, Jake Gutowski, Ryan Cronin, Luke Butler, and Chris Guth won their 3rd straight sectional title and played in their 2nd straight NJSIAA state final finishing with a 24-2-2 record.

The girls soccer team led by captains Morgan Euston, Hannah Buckley, and Katie Weber had their most successful season in school history with a 22-1-1 record finishing as NJAC Freedom Champions and runner-up in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex county tournament.

The football team led by captains Ben Cramer, Garrett Richards, Casey Thomas, and Adrian Rodriguez qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in 12 years and defeated Lenape Valley in their opening state game.

The field hockey team led by captains Katherine Kellenberger and Paige Zawislak finished strong with state tournament victories over North Warren and number 1 seed Westwood.

The cross country teams had successful seasons. The boys led by captain Gavin DeYoung finished with a 6-2 meet record, and the girls ran in the sec-tional meet with captain Rose Ippolito qualifying for states with a 4th place sectional finish.

The girls tennis team led by captains Hope Leone and Kathryn Zielinski finished with a .500 record and defeated Hasbrouck Heights in a state preliminary match.

Week of Respect (continued from page 2)

An Autumn to Remember!

Project Launch Newton (continued from page 1)

Non-profitOrganizationUS Postage

PAIDSparta, NJ

Permit No. 48

NEWTON BOARD OF EDUCATION 57 Trinity StreetNewton, New Jersey 07860 973-383-7392

Board of EducationRich Heckman, PresidentStella Dunn, Vice PresidentEd CaffreyAnn Marie CookeJessica EgnerJoan FayeLinda GianniStephen GoldschmidtTina LarsenRay MorrisNanette Thomas

POSTALPATRON

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• The Board of Education passed a resolution to apply for state ROD grants, which could provide up to 40% state funding toward ten potential facilities projects in the Newton Public Schools.

• Senior Erin Jackson spoke at the county’s 9/11 Ceremony on behalf of all students in the county to commit to recognizing the community service providers in our districts. To do our part, the TRS-Pass It Along Club hosted a dinner for Newton’s volunteer firefighters and EMT members on October 7th in the high school cafeteria.

• Phase I of the athletic fields project (synthetic turf, scoreboard, lights, drainage, track) were funded through the district’s regular operating budget without having to go to referendum.

• The Newton Pride Foundation held its first Newton Pride 5K Stride fundraiser on October 26th to officially open the newly resurfaced track.

• The Newton Public Schools have been selected to participate in PARCC field tests at each school this spring.

DID YOU KNOW............Responsive Classroom (continued from page 2)

are expressed and reinforced often throughout the day. In the end, it all comes down to a classroom that is responsive to the individual and to the responsibility and value of a learning community.

Currently at Merriam, all of the first and second grade teachers have been trained in and are using the Responsive Classroom approach. The approach has shown to be effective for everyone. It offers practical strategies for teaching, rather than formulas which tell teachers what they must do in the classroom. Each teacher is able to adapt the strategies as needed to address their students’ needs, so things may look a bit different in each classroom. Though practices may vary depending on grade level or need, what is certain is that all Responsive Classroom teachers at MAS share the same strong committment to the program and firmly believe in their work.

Attention Parents/ Guardians

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