Art
In preschool, students receive art instruction of 30 minutes per day.
In grades K-6, students receive two 45-minute periods of Art
instruction. In Art, children are exposed to a variety of media and are
encouraged to use their creativity. Art work is displayed throughout
the building. We hold our annual Art Show in the spring in the
auditorium. The Art program has received has received recognition
through the numerous local, county, state, national, and international
awards our students have won.
Basic Skills Improvement Program
The Federal government provides limited funds for instructional
services to those students who have been identified as in need of
preventative or remedial services in the basic skills areas. Our school
has established a Basic Skills Program to service these children on an
individual or small group basis. This program is supported by local
funds as well.
All students are screened in September to determine placement in a
Basic Skills Improvement Program. Any students who falls below the
established state/local minimum levels of proficiency in Reading,
Language and/or Math, as measured by a standardized test, is eligible
for help. In addition, teachers make referrals to the program
coordinator. Participants are post-tested in the spring to determine
progress.
Parents receive notification letters in September if their children are
placed in the program. Withdrawal from the program involves approval
from the Superintendent.
There are several components to our Basic Skills Program. Our
Federally funded program (Title I) provides in-class or pullout. The
full time BSIP teacher works closely with the classroom teacher to
provide continuity of instruction while remediating student deficiencies
and maintaining proficiency.
The BSIP teacher develops an ISIP (individual student improvement plan)
for each student. The plan defines the specific area that needs
remediation. Students in the program will meet one to five times per
week for periods of thirty to forty minutes depending upon grade level
and need for remediation. Classes will be conducted either in their
classroom or the basic skills room.
Conferences are held by the Basic Skills Instructional Staff twice a
year at regularly scheduled conference times or as needed. Parent
meetings will also be held at various times during the school year.
Questions regarding the program should be addressed to the Basic Skills
Teacher and/or the Superintendent/Principal.
Challenge
Challenge Programs offer a wide range of activities for gifted and
talented students. These programs encourage high ability youngsters to
develop their full learning potential while meeting their social and
developmental needs.
Academically gifted students in Grades 4-6 are selected for
participation in our pull-out programs in the area of Reading based on a
variety of factors: standardized test scores, if available, IQ, past
performance, report card grades and teacher recommendation. Identified
students meet with the Challenge Program instructor daily during their
reading program for accelerated and enriched instruction.
This year, we are providing a Math enrichment program for students in
grades 4-6. The Challenge teacher will provide enrichment activities
for identified students twice a week. Students will be selected based
on performance on a chapter-by-chapter basis.
Creatively gifted youngsters continue to be identified through multiple
criteria and participate with identified youngsters from local
districts in activities sponsored by the Shore Consortium for the Gifted
and Talented.
Artistically gifted students have two programs to meet their needs. A
Challenge Art class meets once a week for students in Grades 4-6. They
explore a variety of media which are beyond the scope of the regular
program. A Challenge Music/Drama group also meets once a week for
students in Grades 5-6. Activities have included voice lessons, student
productions, and performances.
Technology
All students have classes in the Technology lab. Students learn basic
keyboarding, word processing, data bases, spreadsheets, multi-media and
have ample opportunity to utilize our library of educational software.
New equipment was purchased to replace outdated equipment. The Board
also authorized funds to purchase a new network server which will
provide e-mail addresses internally.
D.A.R.E.
We are very pleased to have the Drug Abuse Education
program in our district. This year the program will be provided by the
Atlantic Highlands Police Department. Each week a local police officer
will work with children in grade 5 to help them learn to make
appropriate choices and resist peer pressure
Health and Family Life
Students receive instruction in Health, Family Life, and Holocaust
Genocide Education as required by the state. Copies of curricula are
available in the office for any interested parent to review. Health and
Family Life classes are taught by the classroom teacher or the Physical
Education teacher, sometimes with the assistance of the school nurse.
Family Life exclusion letters re sent home to all the parents regarding
each student's participation in the program at the beginning of the
school year.
Holocaust and Genocide Education are integrated within other curricular areas including Health and Social Studies.
Instrumental Music
We provide an outstanding instrumental music program for interested
students in grades 4-6. Students meet with the instrumental teacher for
individual or small group lessons and may participate in the Board.
The district owns and loans many instruments to students. Information
regarding instrument rental and/or purchase is made available to
students who do not wish to use a district-owned instrument.
The band has held a number of concerts over the past several years. In
the spring the band marches in the Memorial Day parade and some members
are selected to participate in the Bayshore Honors Band. We continue
to enjoy our band performances at the Tri-District Arts Show.
Media Center
The facility provides a spacious environment where students can use the
automated library system. Students will be able to search our own
library collection via the computer.
Physical Education
Students are expected to dress properly for class.
Emphasis is placed on skill development, physical fitness and
sportsmanship. All students are expected to participate in physical
education classes unless a doctor's exclusion letter is provided.
During inclement or cold weather, classes are held in the gym. Sneakers
are required for use on the gym floor as well as appropriate apparel.
Special Education
Our policy is to provide a wide range of educational
services. We attempt to educate as many students as possible within our
own building and participate as a member of the Bayshore Jointure
commission to expand educational opportunities for our students.
LEARNING DISABILITIES: The Resource Center
provides individualized instruction for students who have been
identified by the Child Study Team as having a learning disability. A
variety of instructional media, methods, and techniques are employed to
suit the child's learning style The classroom teacher, the Resource
Center teachers, the parent/guardian and the Child Study Team cooperate
in the implementation and evaluation of the classified child's total
educational plan. The instruction may be provided within the Resource
Center or in the classroom on an inclusion basis.
PRESCHOOL DISABILITIES: We offer a full-day
preschool disabilities program. This program services identified
youngsters in the 3 to 5 year age range. Students for this program are
identified by the Child Study Team. We also receive tuition students in
this program.
Speech
Children are selected for the speech correction program after
identification b the Child Study Team. After this testing, children are
selected who can qualify for speech therapy. Frequency of
participation is dependent upon the child's articulation difficulty.
Substance Awareness program
The tri-districts, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, and Henry Hudson
jointly provide a Substance Awareness Program which provides a shared
full-time Substance Awareness Specialist/Counselor. This program is
available to all students and parents with any concerns regarding
drug/alcohol use or abuse. Funds are obtained from various state and
federal grants as well as the local district.
This confidential service assists students with concerns about their
own use or the use of drugs/alcohol by anyone in their lives. The
program also assists students in dealing with peer pressure and other
personal concerns. Information on drugs and alcohol can be obtained by
students or parents.
The Substance Awareness Program also provides guest speakers,
assemblies, and classroom education on drugs/alcohol as required by the
New Jersey Department of Education. Parents can contact Substance
Awareness through the school office. All calls and appointments are
kept confidential and are not entered into a student's permanent record.
Vocal Music/Keyboarding
Students in Grades K-6 participate in our fine vocal music program.
The addition of the Yamaha Keyboarding Program in 1997 has added a new
dimension to the vocal music program. Students learn to read music and
create their own music. Studies have indicated a positive correlation
between the keyboarding program and improvement in math skills.
Students in grades 5 and 6 can participate in chorus and the Talent
Assembly. The chorus performs 3 times a year including the Tri-District
Arts Show. The music teacher coordinates various assembly programs
throughout the year. Each grade level participates.
World Language
Our world language is Spanish. All students will receive weekly Spanish lessons.