of 21 recognized
for annual award
Middle school one
of 21 recognized
for annual award
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — Linwood Middle School received international recognition this summer by winning the Inviting School Award.
The International Alliance for Invitational Education notified the school administration of the honor on June 15, according to Linwood Middle School Principal Pete Clark.
"We take great pleasure in the addition of Linwood Middle School to this list," said William W. Purkey, trustee and co-founder of the international alliance. "Mr. Vincent DeLucia and his colleagues serve as a beacon of hope and a wonderful example of invitational education in action."
During the course of the 2003-04 school year, Vincent DeLucia, Linwood’s former principal, and two eighth-grade teachers, JoAnn Puleio and Amy Rumbo, collaboratively worked together to create a portfolio about Linwood for consideration as an inviting school, according to Clark.
"This pictorial and text portfolio serves as a comprehensive mirror of the inviting practices that the Linwood community actively engages in," Clark said.
The inviting practices combine various academic, humanitarian and social principles that make the learning environment pleasant for students and staff by fostering self-esteem, responsibility and respect, Clark said.
The award recognizes schools, districts and universities throughout the world that exhibit the philosophy of invitational education.
"The philosophy centers on embracing five propositions including people, places, policies, programs and processes," Clark said.
Since the international alliance first presented the Inviting School Award, Purkey said only 100 schools have received the honor.
This year, Linwood is one of 21 schools throughout the world to receive the 2004 Inviting School Award. The alliance also recognized other schools in the United States, Bermuda, Canada and Hong Kong, Purkey said.
Members of the schools’ administrations will travel to the alliance’s 2004 World Conference in Atlanta, Ga., to receive the award, Clark said. The school’s portfolio will be on display at the conference.
"Over the past few years, Linwood has been implementing guidelines and programs that appeal to the humanistic side of education," Clark said.
The school district invited Purkey to serve as a special guest speaker for the 2003-04 staff orientation, during which he spoke about the importance of an inviting learning community, Clark said.
Under DeLucia’s term as principal, which ended this year, the school established a comprehensive list of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities, the new principal said.
Also, the morning announcements broadcast "words of wisdom" that reminded students and staff daily of the behavior expected of them.
In order to make the school more welcoming to the community, Linwood began clothing and food drives for local humanitarian organizations and made contributions of goods and funding to various charities during the holiday season, Clark said.