District News

SNaV Curriculum:  Math Benchmark Data Presentation

On October 8, 2013, Ms. Jameson, Dr. Creasy, and Mr. Jackson presented information about math benchmark assessments in our schools.  The presentation was designed to provide an overview of our math benchmark assessments and report on the outcomes of these assessments since the implementation of Math In Focus in the elementary schools.  Math benchmark assessments are district-created, standardized math assessments that measure students' math progress in three categories.  The categories are Basic Skills and Procedures, Basic Problem Solving, and Complex Problem Solving.  

The Basic Skills and Procedures category measures basic recall of facts and procedures.  For example, procedures for addition and subtraction algorithms, order of operations, simplifying fractions, etc. would fall in this category.  In the Basic Problem Solving category, students apply the basic skills and procedures in the context of a real-world problem.  Typically, these are one-step word problems in the lower grade levels, and may be up two two-steps in the upper elementary grade levels.  In the Complex Problem Solving category, problems require higher level thinking skills and generally require two or more steps.  Within this category, students will encounter these multi-step problems and also non-routine problems that require skills such as guess and check, deductive reasoning, identifying complex patterns, etc.  

We are pleased to report growth in each of these three categories.  Click here to view the complete presentation, which is also available on the Curriculum and Instruction page of the District website.  

  

When the general public thinks about our schools, they think classrooms, teachers, principals, PTAs, and homework. They don't think about "district operations".  How do buildings get built and maintained?  How do teachers get paid?  Who arranges the busing schedules?  Who manages the fiscal and operational elements of school district business?  These are among the many duties and responsibilities of the District Business Office.

School business operations overwhelmingly are governed by New Jersey Statute and Administrative Code.  The procurement of goods and services has formal procedures dictated by statute.  The management of employee state pension contributions, tax shelters, federal and state taxes, and budgetary controls for fiscal reporting are specifically regulated and dictated by the State.  There is no other area within a school district where a board of education is required by statute to hire an independent company to review and report on all of these business functions.

The audit program is a lengthy document that specifically requires the examination and review of everything from board minutes to budget transfers, bids and contracts, petty cash accounts, investments, pensionable wages, capital projects, bond sales, lease purchase agreements, payroll funds, and on and on!!  Nisivaccia LLP, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors just spent the week in our business office performing this examination of law and code compliance.  They will be presenting the District's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) at our November Board Meeting.

With excerpts from NJASBO Key Post

The District is preparing for the state's Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC).  This next generation assessment system will be administered online beginning in the 2014-15 school year.  For the past three Septembers, the District has administered a formative evaluation called the ERB Writing Assessment Program (WrAP) to students in grades 3 through 8 in traditional, paper format. This assessment provides Language Arts teachers with data that helps guide student instruction.   This September, for the first time, the assessment was administered entirely online to our Middle School students.  

Using a secure browser, called Safe Exam Browser, students logged into the WrAP testing site and responded to a writing prompt with a draft on Day One and a final response on Day Two.   The experience was successful, giving students an opportunity to practice an assessment in the online environment and allowing the administration and teachers to work out the considerable logistics of testing entire grade levels at one time via computers.   We're ready for next year's PARCC!

FAMS News

SNaV FAMS: Goodbye Traditional Student Desks

SNaV FAMS:   FAMS Goes Global!

"Teachers for Global Classrooms" is a fellowship program created and administered by the U.S. Department of State. The tenets of this program are to advance student global competencies and to provide U. S. educators with both skills and hands-on learning experiences.

Mr. Tom Vranesich, FAMS Media Specialist, completed the strenuous application process.  We are thrilled to announce that  "Mr. V." has been accepted to represent Franklin Lakes as one of 72 teachers participating in the international professional development grant opportunity.

Mr. V.'s "global cohort" is a consortium of educators that will work together to promote global competencies in students.  As part of this program, Mr. V. will participate in an 8-week online professional development course, and a 2-day Global Education Symposium in Washington D.C., followed by a 2- or 3-week international experience in Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, or Ukraine.  He hopes to bring back experiences and strategies that will enable our students to become successful global citizens! 

CRS News

SNaV CRS:  Mix It Up At Lunch day

Each year, CRS partakes in a nationwide campaign that supports students who want to identify, question and cross social boundaries that separate them from each other.  The day helps build an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.  It is a simple call to action for grades 1-5: take a new seat in the cafeteria.  By making the move, students can cross the lines of division, meet new people, and make new friends.  At CRS, we celebrated Mix-It-Up Day on October 9th.  Students were randomly assigned to each table with tickets that were handed out in the beginning of their lunch period.  There were topics for discussion that students used to get to know each other better. Visit http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up to learn more and to see CRS on the Mix-It-Up Map.

SNaV CRS:  Helping Hands Committee

The Helping Hands Committee at CRS is off to another great year!  Formerly known as the Student Advisory Committee, the club was created for students that have shown leadership skills, integrity and compassion.  The committee will meet twice per month during lunch and recess to plan school wide events, help existing programs and improve the overall spirit of CRS.  This year the Helping Hands Committee will consist only of our fifth grade students.  In past years, some of the group's endeavors included: "Think Pink Day" for cancer awareness, assistance during "Education Day," and promoting school wide assemblies. Mrs. Gagliardo and Mrs. Ballas are extremely excited about CRS' Helping Hands and know that the school community is as well! 

HMR News

SNaV HMR:   Week of Respect

HMR participated in many activities as part of the statewide Week of Respect Celebration.  The HMR community built a Wall of Respect, one brick at a time.  Each brick represented a student or staff member suggestion for standing strong against bullying.  Students visited the Wall of Respect during the week with their class and then explored the topic in class.  In addition, students participated in a school-wide kick off of the OLWEUS Anti-Bullying Program.  The students gathered together and discussed what to do in bullying situations.   A teacher led roleplaying scenario and a read aloud of the book One by Kathryn Otoshi were the main discussion points.  

Students also had the opportunity to Mix It Up at Lunch by eating with students from various classes and using conversation starters that they picked out of boxes at each lunch table.  The students learned lessons in respect this week that will carry through the year and encourage positive social interactions.  

  

SNaV HMR:  Author Douglas Florian Visits

The PTA kindly arranged for Douglas Florian, author and illustrator of over 50 children's books, to visit HMR School on Monday, October 14th.   In preparation for his visit, Librarian Nina Landgraf had students explore his writings and illustrations.  The students even created illustrations using 

his books as a mentor text.  

The author shared his experiences related to the entire process of creating a book with students.  He held multiple presentations in the Library, with small groups allowing for differentiated sessions.  Mr. Florian discussed inspirational sources and showed original artwork and printer's proofs.  The author also described the collaborative process of working with his editor and designer to improve the book.  Our students enjoyed learning about the world of children's book publishing and meeting a well-known author. 

WAS News

SNaV WAS:  Week of Respect

Woodside Avenue School celebrated a Week of Respect, along with schools across New Jersey. The theme for the week was Take Care of Yourself, Take Care of Each Other, Take Care of This Place. Each day had a specific focus, and students provided visual support with their attire. Mrs. Cecere started each day with a famous quote, followed by an explanation of the idea. One example was:

Take Care of This Place (Our Country)/Dress in Red White and Blue to Show Respect

Our country was founded on the principles of liberty, opportunity and justice for all.  As we say the pledge today, let's think about the 25 million living military veterans as well as those who sacrificed their lives because of their "personal courage, love of country and devotion to duty."

During their class meeting, the fourth grade decided to show their respect for our neighborhood by going around the school and cleaning up debris. Decked in "hoodies," they traveled via the playground en route to the Environmental Center.  They collected a half bag of garbage per class.  The students were thrilled to be helping in this way.

As a result of this activity, the fourth grade is looking into planting bulbs in the Environmental Center in hopes of a more inviting and useful outdoor area for our staff and students in the spring. This activity correlates with the fourth grade's science unit on plant life.

School Partner News

SNaV FLEF:  Enrich and Enhance Public School Education