Pearl: Let Kids be Kids – Relax the SAT/NJASK Pressures
While standardized testing may a reality of modern schooling, it isn't the end-all, be-all, Patch blogger Howard L. Pearl argues. Read his thought-provoking-yet short dissertation for more.
School News
Sunday, May 19, 2013
High School Business Teachers Announce Retirement
Board also to vote on teacher appointments for 2013-2014 school year Monday night.
Fort Lee High School business teachers Linda Farrell and Nadege Stretz have announced their retirements, according to the school board's May 20 agenda. Both retirements are effective June 20, 2013. Farrell, with more than a eight years of experience in the Fort Lee school system, has served as the director of the Academy of Finance at the high school. Stretz has been in Fort Lee for over five years, according to records. School trustees on Monday will also be voting on whether to rescind the resignation of technology staff developer James Puliatte. The board is also expected to vote on a number of teacher appointments Monday night. *Kaitlyn Skelley is expected to be appointed as an elementary teacher at School No. 1 at a rate of $54,000, …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Korean Group Petitions Name of 'Sea of Japan' in School Textbooks
"To us Korean-Americans, the correct name is East Sea," group tells local school boards.
A Korean group is asking school officials in Fort Lee, Leonia and Palisades Park to use textbooks that refer to the "Sea of Japan" as "The East Sea," according to a report on northjersey.com. The Korean-American Association of New Jersey has presented 1,500 signatures in favor of the name change to school officials in the three towns, according to the report. The body of water has been referred to as "The Sea of Japan" since the 20th century (when Japan took over Korea), but had been known as "The East Sea" in prior centuries, the group said. "We knew it as East Sea, and we want our children to learn the correct term," the website quoted Sonny Kim, the group's vice president. "To us Korean-Americans, the correct name is East Sea." The news…
'Circle the Arts Festival' Coming to Fort Lee HS
Student art festival scheduled for May 31.
A night of music, dancing, food making and art creation is coming to Fort Lee HS students on Friday, May 31. The "Circle the Arts XVIII" event features exhibitions of student art work, live theatre performances, orchestral and choir concerts, and more. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The night wraps up at 9:30 p.m. Check out the flyer above for more details.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Negotiations Begin on New Fort Lee Teacher Contract
The rate of salary increases for teachers is declining in Bergen County.
If recent agreements in Bergen County represent a trend, unionized Fort Lee Public Schools employees are likely looking at roughly a 2 percent salary increase with additional give-backs in health care costs. The contract between the school board and the 400-plus union staff members of the Fort Lee School District expired April 30. In 2010, the board of eduation received a $3 million cut in state aid, prompting school officials to renegotiate the union deal mid-contract, hence the unique timetable. The two sides discussed potential terms of a new deal for the first time on Monday. It's unclear how long negotiations – which are confidential – will last. According to the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), the salary increases …
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Anna
11:00 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
In the private sector we have been subject to cost of living only increases for years, if that. And every year our contributions to health coverage go up. Many residents in fort lee earn lower salaries than the average for our public servants, and with fewer perks. more ›
Online Charter School Hopes to Escape from Limbo
State delays go-ahead amid questions about legality, viability of virtual classrooms for kids
The nation’s largest online education company, K12 Inc., is once again registering kids and offering jobs to teachers for the debut of New Jersey’s first virtual charter school – all without knowing if the school will even open. The New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School was one of two applications given preliminary approval by the state Department of Education two years ago. But it was forced into a delay last summer, when state Education Commissioner Chris Cerf wouldn’t grant the final charter amid ongoing questions – legal and otherwise – about the school’s merits and viability. Almost a year later, answers to those questions remain hotly debated, including in the courts, and K12 Inc. is taking a wait-and-see approach to what Cerf …
Monday, May 13, 2013
NJTV Segment on School 4 to Air Again
Feature on Fort Lee's "Buddy Program" to air twice more in June.
The NJTV Classroom Close-up segment profiling Fort Lee School 4's innovative "Buddy Program" will air two more times. The Buddy Program pairs sixth-graders with kindergartners to help them adjust to the new experience of school. Students meet monthly to jointly work on projects. Older students keep a journal on the experience, while kindergartners relay they thoughts with pictures. Since the program got off the ground six years ago, discplinary issues with sixth-graders has dropped measurably, School 4 guidance counselor Nancy Sanders told Patch in January. The older students take with them a greater understanding of responsibility while kindergartners better adjust to new surroundings, Sanders said. Originally aired on May 5, the segment …
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Sunday, May 12, 2013
Don Bosco Overpowers Bergen Catholic to Win County Title
Don Bosco pulled ahead and away from Bergen County in the third quarter to win their second consecutive county title.
The Don Bosco Ironmen outscored the Bergen Catholic Crusaders 5-1 in the third quarter of the finals in the Bergen County Lacrosse Tournament. That scoring outburst made all the difference and propelled the Ironmen to a 10-6 victory and their second straight Bergen County championship. The Ironmen had a rough go of it in the first half. Bergen Catholic goalie Matt Pedrick was on point early on and held the Ironmen to just three first-half goals. “They came out playing hard. We were struggling with our shots and their goalie played really well," said Don Bosco captain Teddy Sisco-Tolomeo. Don Bosco looked like a different team in the second half. They came out very aggressive, snatched control of the game and never looked back. "In the …
Regina
1:35 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Way to go Bosco! And yes my son went there years ago when they were building the program. It's great to see all the years of hard work paying off! more ›
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Five School District Staff Members Facing Layoffs at End of June
The board of education voted on Monday night to approve a staff reduction, which business administrator Cheryl Balletto said was necessary to keep the proposed budget within a 2 percent cap.
Five school district employees will face layoffs on June 30, following a Monday night vote by the board of education to approve the staff reduction. On Tuesday the board informed three aides—one each at Schools 1, 2 and 3—a high school teacher, and a registration officer at the board of education office that their employment would not be renewed for the 2013-14 school year. Parents, as well as students of a teacher reportedly on the list of staff reductions, spoke out in support of staff members at Monday night’s meeting, asking the board to reconsider its position on the proposed layoffs. “It’s a disgrace to have children here pleading for their teachers,” Diane Sicheri told the board, urging to them to disclose a list of staff up for …
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Keith Jensen
11:30 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013
Its not the Board of Ed. Its your re-elected officials that you should be frustrated with. The Board of Ed is acting within the restrictions and guidance they have been mandated to follow. So, while Senator Loretta Weinberg continues to throw money at the Abbott Districts and Mayor Sokolich and our Council are not speaking out against her for doing so, you will watch your taxes increase to pay … more ›
Middle School Publication Earns National Recognition
Intermedia, a literature and arts publication produced by students at Lewis F. Cole Middle School, was one of only two middle school publications in the country to receive the Gold Crown award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
Intermedia, a student-produced arts and literature magazine at Lewis F. Cole Middle School, was one of only two publications in the country recognized last month for a Gold Crown, the top award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). The magazine, now in its 41st year in print, has been recognized by the CSPA before, but this is its first time winning the top award. The other school recognized with the award was Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland. “They judge an individual issue on creativity and organization of the book, as well as he content and the overall design,” said Cean Spahn, the faculty literary advisor for the publication. Student literary editors Alexandra D’Ambrosio and Christina Ping, …
Harry Jameson
11:00 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
President Park of South Korea addressed the US Congress and said this in relation to Japan. “If we cannot honestly acknowledge what happened yesterday, there can be no tomorrow.” She should have also said that "If we cannot honestly forgive what happened yesterday, there can be no tomorrow." I was all for President Park since she was the first female President of South Korea, but after watching … more ›