By KATRINA GRANT
It’s hard to believe that the time is approaching for back to school, but alas it is here. While many parents and students are preparing for the upcoming school year, the school districts, principals, superintendents and teachers are as well. At the Lenape Regional High School District and the Shamong Township School District, they are gearing up for a new year.
This year, K-8 students in Shamong will see the same schedule when it comes to school days, bus routes and other things. However, teachers at Indian Mills Elementary School will see a slight change in their schedules.
“This year, each grade level of teachers will also have a common planning time once a month with our technology director and teacher so they can plan lessons together that integrate technology into what they have to teach to meet NJCCCS (New Jersey Core Curriculum Contest Standards),” Nicole Moore, principal at Indian Mills Elementary School, said. “Due to the generosity of the Home & School Association, we have greatly increased the number of SMART Boards in the classrooms, so we want to be sure this technology is utilized.”
Over the summer, while students were enjoying their vacations, the school district was making some improvements.
“The maintenance staff installed 12 SMART Boards over the summer,” Moore said. “The boards were purchased by the Home & School Association.”
“Based on concerns expressed by staff and students, a new sound system was installed in the IMMS gymnasium under the direction of Todd Hall,” Tim Carroll, principal of Indian Mills Memorial School, said.
Students at the Indian Mills Memorial School will see curriculum changes in their science classes this year.
“An updated science curriculum will be implemented this year based on the new NJCCCS,” Carroll said. “Changes will be seen mostly in topics being taught in different grades than previous years. Our science teachers worked diligently last spring to update and improve the curriculum.”
Faced with budget issues, many schools are implementing various fees for activities or programs, and Shamong School District is one of them.
“A new fee structure was voted on last spring to increase the cost of athletics from $50 to $75 for sports,” Carroll said.
In August, the board of education passed the following stipulations to assist families with multiple children and families facing difficult financial situations:
— Families on free lunch: No cost for any athletics/activities.
— Families on reduced lunch: Half price for any athletics/activities.
— Individual student cap: Families with one child participating in athletics/activities will pay a maximum of $200 in fees for athletics/activities.
— Family cap: Families with more than one child participating in athletics/activities will pay a maximum of $400 in fees for athletics/activities.
Among other changes is the addition of some new programs in the district.
“The elementary school is offering a new kindergarten enrichment program called KinderClub, run by Theresa Gibbons, one of the IMS kindergarten teachers,” Moore said. “KinderClub is a tuition-based program that is designed to complement the district’s current half-day kindergarten program with enrichment activities. The program offers enrolled children a foundation in hands-on, creative and fun learning, as well as social opportunities during inside and outside playtime. Also, this school year our music teacher will offer music lessons to interested fourth-grade students. She will offer instruction in one of the following instruments: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trombone, French horn and trumpet.”
Going forward, each principal has set some goals for the new school year.
“Increasing the integration of technology into the daily lessons and promoting and increasing independent reading (are our goals),” Carroll said.
“This year, we plan to commit to continue with making our students feel appreciated and safe as part of a community of learners,” Moore said. “Additionally, we plan to have classroom teachers integrate technology into their lessons on a regular basis throughout the school year.”
The transition back to school for students who are returning to Seneca High School will be relatively seamless. According to Lenape Regional High School District Assistant Superintendent Carol Birnbohm, there are no major changes expected in the 2011–2012 school year.
For instance, there are no differences to report in course offerings. But in a way, that’s a good thing.
According to Birnbohm, the LRHSD offers more than 200 courses, including 18 AP courses and 71 courses approved for Burlington County College credit through the BCC CAP program.
“Last year, we had over 1,400 students earning over 11,000 college credits in one year,” Birnbohm said.
It is maintaining that type of curriculum despite a rough economy that Birnbohm said the district plans to focus on this year.
“Our challenge is to maintain our high-quality programs in this tough financial climate,” she said. “However, we are fortunate to have a supportive board and enthusiastic teachers, which has allowed our programs to be maintained at the level of excellence our community expects, meeting the needs of all of our students.”
Encouraging community spirit and involvement is another goal. Birnbohm said they are excited about continuing the Senior Day of Service Program, which was held for the first time last spring.
“We had approximately 1,800 seniors performing volunteer service at more than 90 different sites across the eight communities we serve (Evesham, Mt. Laurel, Medford, Medford Lakes, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland),” she said.
One important thing that parents and students should be reminded of is that the student activity fee that was instituted last year remains in effect for the 2011–2012 school year.
It is thanks in part to that fee that all extracurricular activities in the district have been maintained in this coming school year.
Only students who want to participate in an extracurricular program or sport need to pay the participation fee, which is an annual fee of $200, with a maximum family cap of $400. Students who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program are exempt.
The charge allows the student to participate in as many clubs or sports as they can possibly do during the school year. To see a complete list of programs that are covered by the fee, visit www.lrhsd.org/81361071481710/lib/81361071481710/Athletics%20and%20Activities.pdf.
So it looks like the only major transition for local high school students will be adjusting their biological clocks and getting into the back-to-school mindset.
“Parents can help students prepare for the first day of school by allowing their teen to get back to a morning ‘routine,’” Birnbohm said. “They can do this by getting them up a little earlier … and getting them back to more ‘regular’ bedtime, which is age appropriate.”
For freshmen not knowing what to expect when entering high school for the first time, Birnbohm said the best advice she can give is to get involved in your school.
“We offer a variety of clubs and diverse experiences for all different interests,” she said. “We know that students who are involved in extracurricular programs are more likely to maintain excellent attendance, have fewer discipline problems and have better grades. We also advise students to take advantage of the time teachers spend after school each day providing free tutoring or extra help sessions.”
