Back to School fever right around the corner in Cinnaminson.
It’s that time again … the packing of lunches, the sharpening of pencils, and the ringing of school bells. Cinnaminson Township Public Schools opens its doors on Sept. 5 for the first day for all students. It will be an exciting start for the district, especially for Superintendent Stephen Cappello.
Cappello will start his first full year as superintendent after joining the district in 2016. Cappello started his role beginning on July 1, is also a member of the Medford Board of Education and serves on the board of directors for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. He was the director of curriculum and instruction for Cinnaminson Township Public Schools prior to being named superintendent.
“For me personally, I am excited for this year, but I am also excited for the students and staff,” Cappello said. “There is an aura of excitement around any school year, but this year in particular seems very special.”
The 2017–18 school year is the first in a while the district will open with no challenges of construction taking place, Cappello stated.
After several years, capital improvements were completed this summer to each of the schools in the district.
Improvements ranged from small-scale secure vestibule improvements at the New Albany Elementary School to the Capstone Project at Cinnaminson High School, which saw expansions to wings of the school and the completion of a new gymnasium. Complete rehabilitation to the high school’s hallways, classrooms and lockers was completed, while an overhaul of the auditorium was finalized as well.
“All of our projects are now behind us, and we will continue to reap the rewards of that project,” Cappello said.
Curriculum changes also took place over the summer, especially with the elementary science program. A new inquiry-based curriculum was adopted for the New Albany School, which meets the requirements of the New Jersey Science Standards.
“Students between kindergarten through fifth grade will get to take part in new lab exercises that meet this new program,” Cappello said.
New text series for both Spanish and French classes were also adopted for middle school and high school students that highlighted the curriculum changes.
Faculty will report the Thursday prior to Labor Day weekend to take part in an extra professional learning session, which normally was bumped into later in the school year, Cappello stated.
“This session helps our faculty members get an extra day of learning before classes begin,” Cappello said. “It also benefits our students who will come to class on the first day and hit the ground running.”
Parents will also see some changes to their involvement with the schools, mostly their forms to sign in the beginning of the year.
“A handful of forms that get sent home with students on the first day now can be accessed on Parent Portal,” Cappello said. “It’s exciting to move even more into the digital trends of today’s world, and also help reduce the amount of paper we hand out.”
For more information regarding Cappello, or the Cinnaminson Township Public Schools, check https://www.cinnaminson.com.
