Summer is quickly winding down and with summer’s end comes back to school.
By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
Summer is quickly winding down and with summer’s end comes back to school.
At Cranbury School, new parent orientation for grades 1-3 will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 2-3 p.m. For grades 4-8, orientation will be held from 1-2 p.m., also on Sept. 3.
Incoming kindergartners will have the opportunity to visit their classrooms from 1-2 p.m. on Sept. 3.
According to Chief School Administrator Susan Genco, curricula for physical education/health, technology, art, world language, 6th grade mathematics, and social studies were revised over the summer.
A new textbook for 6th grade mathematics and 8th grade social studies will also be introduced at the start of the year.
A technology laboratory has been added, as well as iPads, Google Chromebooks and other hand-held devices “to support the development of 21st century skills,” Ms. Genco said.
”The district technology plan provides for improvements in infrastructure and school security upgrades for 2013-2014,” according to Ms. Genco. She did not elaborate what those improvements might be.
Over the summer, the school’s parking lot was reconfigured and a new sidewalk was added, connecting the auditorium walkway to the main entrance of the school. The school’s drainage system was also replaced.
Cranbury School isn’t the only one with back to school change to show off.
In neighboring Jamesburg, the school district has a lot going on, according to Superintendent Gail Verona.
For starters, the size of its staff has increased significantly.
”We’re very excited we have seven new staff members this year,” Ms. Verona said. “That’s a lot of new people for a little district.”
At the middle school level, the district has hired a part-time art teacher, a physical education teacher, an academic support staff member and an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher.
A part-time music teacher, first grade teacher and academic support/special education teacher, at the elementary school level, round out the new district personnel.
This year marks a major push by the district to maximize technology use in the classroom, Ms. Verona said. Students will begin using Google Chromebooks and teachers will start to integrate Google Apps into their classroom instruction. The district’s website will debut a new look as well, with new features and social media playing a larger role.
The district has also partnered with the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (RGSE) to enhance the quality of the academic programs available to students. RGSE members will work side by side with Jamesburg faculty to provide professional development, including instructional coaching and in-classroom support, throughout the year.
Topics will include English as a second language, language arts literacy, educational technology and special education.
According to Ms. Verona, only one other district in the state, apart from Jamesburg, was chosen for the partnership with RGSE.
School officials for Monroe Township School District could not be reached for comment as of press time.