north arlington schools-special services
TRANSCRIPT
College recruiters visiting our students at our high school,
continued success on state assessments, special visitors partnering
with and acknowledging our academic program, over 90 percent of
the Class of 2010 attending colleges/universities, PTOs bustling with
activities to enhance our educational programs, national honors re-
ceived, the best music, art and drama programs in the State, the 2010
football program astounding the home fans as well as their oppo-
nents, parents volunteering in our schools and participating in the
district’s Parents as Partners initiative among many, many other aca-
demic and co-curricular activities—yes, it has been a very active and
exciting 2010.
In our current newsletter, you will see a sample of just some of
the many things happening in our district such as a salute to our Vet-
erans, information regarding our special services program, and
events such as our National Honor Society induction under the direc-
tion of Mrs. Elaine Maresca, and our National Blue Ribbon honors.
Please visit our district website at www. narlington.k12.nj.us to see
an extensive list of highlights, activities, pictures, and programs at
each of our schools, along with other important information for our
educational community-at-large.
As the holidays are quickly upon us, we hope you have had
the opportunity to jump into the spirit of the season by attending one
or more of our holiday musical extravaganzas at each of our
schools. Our students diligently practice their craft throughout the
year and welcome the opportunity to serve the community by sharing
their gift and passion for music.
Partnerships make us strong. We actively encourage partner-
ships that will help our students and district achieve our goals. And
you, our parents, are our most cherished and needed partner. Please
continue to communicate with your child’s teachers and school.
On behalf of the Board of Education, and the entire North Ar-
lington Staff, I would like to wish you and your families a truly beau-
tiful holiday season and a healthy and happy New Year!
Dr. Oliver W. Stringham
Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent’s Message
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Volume 1 Issue 2
December 2010
Page 2 OU R S CHOOLS
The Board of Education under the rec-
ommendation of Superintendent Oliver
Stringham several years ago began plan-
ning the creation of two new classrooms
in Washington School. These class-
rooms have allowed the district to edu-
cate young autistic students within the
school district allowing them to be edu-
cated in their home town. Additionally,
this has reduced the cost of out of district
tuitions and transportation costs that
would have had to be paid to educate
these students. Two more classroom
conversions will be completed before the
end of this school year allowing even
more out of district students to be edu-
cated within our school district at addi-
tional savings. Students have the ability
to get specialized instruction within the
context of the school community, and if
appropriate as indicated in individualized
education plans, are also mainstreamed into
the regular classroom setting. New Child
Study Team Coordinator Walter Curioni
reports with excitement the progress stu-
dents continue to make in these pro-
grams. Additionally, Mr. Curioni reports
that he is impressed with how our district
works each day to help students appreciate
that need to respect each other and assist
one another. As has occurred in the past,
the district will be having a series of parent
workshops at night regarding a number of
interesting and informative special educa-
tion topics. In November, the district held
a meeting for parents where a transitional
counselor presented information regarding
transitioning from high school to adult
life. Saturday school has been available for
middle level special needs students through
the past few years and North Arlington
has been one of the few districts in the
area that has had its total and special
needs population achieve Adequate
Yearly Progress goals on all state as-
sessments. Dr. Stringham, indicates,
“We work with our special needs stu-
dents and all students each and every
day to help them as much as possible to
respect themselves and others and of
course achieve academically. This is
not a one day lesson; it is a lesson that
goes on in a lifelong manner. We are
very proud of our special needs pro-
gram, while always looking to discover
additional best practices to improve and
enhance all of our programs.”
North Arlington Schools-Special Services
The North Arlington Public Schools held many different learning
activities regarding Veteran’s Day, Thursday, November 11,
2010. Meaningful, respectful events and discussions happened
at each of our schools. We were also honored to have veterans
visit our schools during November and on Veteran’s Day to
speak with our children and be part of activities which honored
our veterans and their sacrifices of time and life so we may be
here as free Americans. The students and teachers were deeply
appreciative of their service and the sacrifices of all veterans. On
Friday, November 12, 2010 we lowered our flags to respectfully
honor one of our recent fallen New Jersey service men stationed
in Afghanistan.
Pictured are SPC. Gregory Appleyard, U.S. Army, BUCN. Justin Heyler, US
Navy, and Mr. George Lewis , U.S. Navy, and proud member of our local VFW. Mr. Appleyard is veteran of Iraq and Mr. Lewis is a World War II veteran
and served on the USS Hornet in the Pacific. Students pictures from left to right
Left to right: Daniel Di Gangi, Carlie Mullins, Alexis Tetto, Edward Walters,
Aidan Gill and Joel Collazo, in front
Veteran’s Day
Students Return with Great Success The district is pleased to report that the students returning to
district earned high marks in the first quarter. Previous
schools attended include the Visions Program in Emerson,
South Bergen Jointure, and Shepard Academy. The district
believes that students can learn best in their home commu-
nity. Students returning to district are closely monitored and
supported throughout the transition process. The district
believes strongly that all students can learn and that it is
important to develop individualized education plans that
recognize students’ strengths while ameliorating areas of
weakness.
Parent Meetings The district held a workshop on transition on November
18th, 2010. High school parents had an opportunity to
speak with transition counselor, Cheryl Kavanagh, about
college, vocational, and military pathways. Parents re-
ceived a number of handouts and materials in each of
the aforementioned domains. The night was a great suc-
cess. Light refreshments were served. Parents are en-
couraged to contact Mr. Walter Curioni for future work-
shop dates and topic choices. His contact information is
V OLU ME 1 ISS UE 2 Page 3
Blue Ribbon in Washington DC!
In mid November, Dr. Stringham met up with retired principal
Claire Greene and retired Roosevelt teacher Dolores Badiola, in
Washington DC at the National Blue Ribbon Award Cere-
mony. The event began with an address by US Secretary of Edu-
cation, Arne Duncan as well as others. There was a wonderful
luncheon and then each district was called in alphabetical order by
state to receive their plaque and a flag honoring the school as a
National Blue Ribbon Award recipient. Not many school’s
throughout the country have won the nation’s highest award –
Congratulations Roosevelt School!
E Edition of the Record Newspaper
The North Arlington Learning Community now has access to an
electronic edition of The Record newspaper. The e-Edition lets students navigate an exact replica of the printed newspaper. You can flip through pages and skim headlines, view articles, photos, games and comics with the click of a
button, and even print out stories and photos in "clipping" format!
http://hackensackrecord.n j.newsmemory.com/nie.php
Username: NIE35915 PW: narlington
Holiday Concerts and Winter Re-
cess
Middle School Dec. 8 7:00 PM
Washington Dec. 13 9:00 AM
Roosevelt Dec. 14 9:00 AM
High School Dec. 14 7:00 PM
Jefferson Dec. 15 9:00 AM
Half Day Dec. 23
Winter Recess Dec. 24-Jan. 2
School Reopens Jan. 3
NAHS National Honor Society
On November 11, 2010, North Arlington High School held its annual National Honor Society Induction Dinner at the Fiesta.
The evening was successfully coordinated by NAHS Honor Society Advisor Elaine Maresca and was a respectful tribute to each
of our new inductees.
This year’s inductees were Alfano, Sara (11); Allen, Kristen (12); Alrabaa, Sandra
(11); Attaalla, Kyrillos (12); Cao, Anna (12); Castanteen, Valerie (12); Centanni,
Joelle (11); Donofrio, Gabrielle (11); Fiore, Gabriel (11); Gamarra, Erik (12); Ga-
vieres, Eunice (11); Glarner, Matthew (11); Gwiszcz, Rafal (12); Haffouda,
Eddie(12); Hislop, Virginia(11); Lozada, Emely (12); Matos, Tiffany (11); Mon-
cayo, Frans (11); Namnama, Megan (11); Paiva, Breno (12); Paredes, Elisabet(12);
Prado, Shantal (12); Sanchez, Tiffany (11); Sierra, Stefany (11); Trias, Beatrice (11);
Trochez, Gisselle (11); Vigliorolo, Erica (12); Warchol, Aleksandra (11).
Important Dates
Pictured
Mrs. Greene, Mrs. Badiola, and Dr. Stringham in
front of the White House
222 Ridge Road
NORTH ARLINGTON
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Phone: 201-991-6800
Quality Schools Equal Quality Communities
We’re on the Web!
www.narlington.k12.nj.us
North Arlington School District’s
Mission Statement
The mission of the North Arlington
School District is to strive to develop
high student achievement through the
systemic implementation of a rigorous
PreK-12 curriculum aligned to the NJ
Core Curriculum Content Standards.
Through this curriculum, the
integration of technology, and extra-
curricular activities, the district will
strive to develop student character,
self-awareness, and higher levels of
performance so that students are
prepared to make better personal,
academic, and life decisions.
District-wide Professional Development
The North Arlington School district has developed a strong, coherent
professional development model that allows teachers to engage regularly
in authentic teamwork focused on explicit, common learning goals.
On December 2nd , the North Arlington teachers met as professional
learning communities to engage in discussions around teaching and
learning. A professional learning community is a group of teachers who
work as a team to identify essential and valued student learning, analyze
current levels of achievement, set goals, share best practices and create
lessons to improve achievement.
Representatives from the elementary, middle and high schools were in-
volved in PreK-12 Science and Math teams to review and assess our
needs with curriculum alignment to the 2009 NJ Core Curriculum Stan-
dards. Other departmental groups met to discuss curricula in their re-
spective areas. Additionally, teachers were given the opportunity to meet
by grade level to plan upcoming lessons together using the newly
adopted lesson plan templates. Educational research by Fullan, Darling-
Hammond and Little(1990) found that when teachers work collabora-
tively on a continuous basis focused on student work through assessment,
it leads to increased teacher confidence and, not surprisingly, remarkable
gains in student achievement.
North Arlington
Board of Education
Mr. George McDermott, President
Mrs. Karen Palatella, Vice President
Mr. Anthony Blanco, Trustee
Mr. Joseph Ricciardelli, Trustee
Mr. Stanley Titterington, Trustee
Dr. Oliver Stringham,
Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Kathleen McEwin-Marano,
Secretary/Business Administrator
Ms. Valerie Haag and Ms. Noreen Mack deciding on appropriate PreK and
Kindergarten Science skills
Ms. Justine Crismale and Ms. Marti Verrier
mapping Science curriculum.
Ms. Kathy Malanga, Ms. Colleen Mc Crea
and Ms. Hilda Northrop collaborating
on lesson planning.
“Man’s mind
stretched to a
new idea never
goes back to its
original
dimensions.”
~Oliver Wendell Holmes