Report Card Narrative

New Jersey Department of Education

GRANT SCHOOL

Grant School continues to move toward excellence! The members of our staff always work toward our mission of providing each child with the optimal environment for developing an active and inquisitive mind, strong feelings of self worth, positive values, and respect for and acceptance of others, in order to meet the academic and social challenges of today’s society!

We have a wonderfully talented and hardworking staff of professionals! Teachers are frequently engaged in professional development activities, both inside the district and out, which are often directly linked with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, grade level/subject benchmarks, and NJ State Assessments. One of our teachers is associated with the Rutgers University Mathematics Coalition. She leads professional development programs for her colleagues in Ridgefield Park as well as for teachers from all across the state. Our staff participates in the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award Program, designed to honor those teachers with outstanding abilities and innovative teaching approaches. Thanks to the efforts of all our staff members, especially our music, art, and physical education teachers, we accomplished our objective of having each and every one of our students participate in the District Arts Festival!

Using various kinds of tests, the skills and knowledge of all children in grades 2 through 6 are assessed annually. Our 2nd, 5th, and 6th graders took assessments in mathematics and language arts literacy, which are used to determine their specific, individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as areas of our curricula in which we need to adjust/improve instruction. Our 3rd and 4th graders take the NJ ASK (Assessment of Knowledge and Skills). Many of our students accepted the opportunity to participate in specially created after school, skill-building classes. However, all our students dedicated themselves to preparing, then performing on the standardized tests to the very best of their abilities!

Our students always give their best effort. Of course, so do our teachers! Staff members consistently ensure that all instruction is precisely aligned to our district benchmarks…the items in each subject area every student should know or be able to do at the end of the school year. Teachers meet by grade level/subject to refine curricula so that they are directly aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, corresponding progress indicators and framework activities. As a result of these efforts, student performance in all grade levels continues to be excellent…far exceeding State standards. The scores of our 3rd graders on the NJ ASK for Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics were exceptionally high, especially in mathematics, where 60% of our students scored Advanced Proficient! The NJ ASK scores of our 4th graders in both language arts literacy and mathematics were extremely high as well. Two out of every five students scored Advanced Proficient in mathematics! Our students maintain an edge on learning during the summer months by completing grade level packets in language arts literacy (including reading) and mathematics.

Programs for recognition of students’ achievement and progress continue to motivate their performance! Student of The Month, the Principal’s Prize, Principal’s Honor Rolls, and the Annual Student Awards (for academic and service achievement) are the major programs. We have an extensive school publication, distributed weekly, titled Bulldog News, in which all the events and activities at our school, and the accomplishments of our students are presented. Our school web page on the District web site provides numerous, timely and informative links about our school’s academic programs, social environment, and student honorees.

Children are frequently engaged in a variety of special projects and activities. Some are associated with our Theme of The Month. Kindergartners through 3rd graders participate in the Governor’s Book Club. Students in 2nd and 5th grade are partnered as “Book Buddies”! We have an International Dinner and a Poetry Café. Students eagerly participate in the Village Arbor Day celebration, Knights of Columbus sponsored Spelling Bee, National Geographic Geography Bee, PTA Talent Show, and the Math-A-Thon. “Heroes & Cool Kids” is a group of specially identified and trained Ridgefield Park High School students. Members conduct classroom activities with 5th and 6th graders at least 4 times during the year. Many children participated in the Time To Read program, in conjunction with specially trained and capable Ridgefield Park High School “Scarlets”. The school staff and children are annual participants in the Village Fourth of July Parade. This past year our school’s float won several Judges’ First Prizes! School spirit is greatly enhanced by the availability of a wide selection of clothing articles featuring the school colors of blue and white and our “Bulldog” logo!

Members of our community share their enthusiasm and expertise with our children in ways that are interesting and informative. Officers from our Police Department present the DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program, read to our kindergarten and first graders, and ensure that all families get the opportunity to have their children fingerprinted. Members of the Fire Department make presentations about fire prevention. Police, fire, and emergency medical personnel conduct baby sitting training for our 6th graders. In November veterans, who are members of our local American Legion Post, lead our celebration of Veterans’ Day.

The involvement of our families is extraordinary! They provide our children with educational programs and activities that enrich both school life and curricula. The members of our PTA, especially the executive officers and committee chairpersons, plan and present enjoyable, special events such as the Welcome Back Picnic, two Book Fairs, the International Dinner, and grade level field days. The PTA helps fund our class trips at the end of the year, too!

In our quest for excellence, we continually provide our children with new and improved academic programs, special events, and a wide range of activities, involving our children’s families and community members, in ways that effectively ensure our children’s maximum academic growth and social development!

Principal
Angela Bender
201-641-0441