The goal is to use Apple technology within a year as part of the fifth- and sixth-grade instruction
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL A group of about 30 gifted and talented students in West Amwell Elementary School will be the first to use new Apple iPods and Macbooks this year to encourage higher-order thinking skills.
”We needed to start it slow,” Superintendent Todd Fay said. “Our goal is a year from now to use Apple technology as part of the fifth- and sixth-grade instruction.”
Only a dozen students at a time will have access to the computers and iPods. The school purchased 12 iPods at a cost of $50 each and an equal number of Macbooks for $1,200 each. The school district paid for the purchase.
The district is looking for outside sources of funding to help pay for more hardware, Dr. Fay said. The goal is to have the technology in the hands of all fifth- and sixth-graders next year.
For many years, subjects were taught in isolation from each other with science separate from math and history separate from literature and writing. All that has changed in recent years, and higher-order thinking skills are what the students are being taught throughout all disciplines. Much of science is math, and history and social studies are all agreeable to the inclusion of writing instruction, according to Dr. Fay.
Another big change at the K-6 school is the sharing of its superintendent for the first time. Dr. Fay, who has been the school’s administrative leader since December 2002, will divide his week between his home district of West Amwell and Lambertville Public School, with 2½ days at each location.
Mitzi Morillo, supervisor of instruction, became the new principal July 1. Similarly, LPS also has a new principal, Gail Tress-Nardoni.
”The best advantage is, if I can do all of the administrative work and free these two very talented people up on curriculum and delivery, I think the children of both schools benefit,” Dr. Fay said.
He plans to perform more “walk throughs,” a less formal type of observation that will allow him to assess teachers and students in the classrooms and find out firsthand what is working, what isn’t and why.
”It will help us improve their achievement,” he said.
The district hired two new teachers for 2007-08.
Donna Blum, a New Jersey native who comes to West Amwell from her most recent teaching job in Connecticut, will teach sixth grade. She has 13 years of experience in the classroom.
”We were so impressed with her,” Dr. Fay said. “We were lucky to get her.”
A native of Poland will fill in for a year for a fifth-grade teacher who is on maternity leave. Przemyslaw Kowalewski has been in the United States for seven years.
”He’s enthusiastic, experienced and bright,” Dr. Fay said. “The kids will benefit.”
Students return Sept. 6 for a full day of classes.
Enrollment has increased by five students to 265.

