New programs to debut in upcoming school year

New programs to debut
in upcoming school year
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer

School doors will open wide on Sept. 4 in the K-8 Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District as students begin the 2002-03 school year.

"The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District is looking forward to a wonderful year, full of new beginnings and exciting learning experiences," said Super-intendent of Schools Dr. Maureen Lally. "There will be 425 new kindergarten students who will join us, along with an additional 135 first-grade students. To accommodate the growth, we have added both kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Clark Mills School."

The superintendent noted that there has been a large enrollment increase in the fourth grade.

"Approximately 50 new students have registered at that level," she said.

Dr. Robert Weiner, assistant superintendent, said there will be several new programs in the district this year.

"We’re introducing wireless computers in two of our primary schools," Weiner said. "They will be at Taylor Mills and Clark Mills."

The assistant superintendent also said there will be a new pre-algebra program at MEMS, which will include a new pre-algebra curriculum and text.

Weiner also explained that this year the district will be bringing more special education children into the regular program.

"District-wide, we are in the third year of our differentiation of instruction effort which is meeting the needs of the diversity of students we have in our classes," he said.

Weiner noted that this year the district is training classroom teachers on how to instruct children who are on a variety of different ability levels, but who are in the same classroom at the same time. The assistant superintendent said this will be beneficial to teachers, who will now be able to better manage their time and instruction in these classes.

Other new programs will include: Microsoft Office for grades four through six; A Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop at the elementary level; An introduction to World Language, Spanish, at grade five; and there will be a professional development program for all new teachers.

"We’re trying to make sure that all new teachers have the same training," said Weiner.

Parents will be able to attend back to school night at Lafayette Mills School on Sept. 17; Wemrock Brook School on Sept. 19; Pine Brook School on Sept. 23; Milford Brook School on Sept. 24; Clark Mills School on Sept. 26; Taylor Mills School on Sept. 30; and the Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3.

The district calendar notes there will be a four-hour school day schedule on Nov. 19, 20, 21 and 22 with parent-teacher conferences during the evening of Nov. 19-21. Conferences during the day will take place on Nov. 22.

Winter recess will begin after a regular session day on Dec. 20 and students will return to school on Jan. 2, 2003. Spring recess will begin on April 16 after a regular session day and schools will reopen on April 28.

March 10-13 will each be four-hour student sessions and parent-teacher conferences will take place on the evenings of March 10 and 12, while day conferences will take place on March 11 and 13.

Parents should be aware that testing dates include March 10-13 Grade Eight Performance Assessment (GEPA) and March 17-20 will be make-up GEPA testing. District testing will occur on April 7-9 for all schools and April 10-11 has been set aside for make-up district testing in all schools.

School phone numbers have been changed to the following: Wemrock Brook, (732) 786-2600; MEMS, (732) 786-2650; Lafayette Mills, (732) 786-2700; Clark Mills, (732) 786-2720; Taylor Mills, (732) 786-2760; Milford Brook, (732) 786-2780; Pine Brook, (732) 786-2800; Transportation, (732) 786-2640; Pupil Personnel Services, (732) 786-2750; and the administration building, (732) 786-2500. The new phone numbers are effective immediately.

There will be two new assistant principals on board, Mitchell David Kavor at Milford Brook School and Gregory T. Duffy at Lafayette Mills School.