| New Egypt, New Jersey |
|
By Karen Amburgey, Board Member Plumsted Township School District |
Local Mom Competes for Mrs. New Jersey Elks To Participate in Flag Day Services North Hanover BOE discusses repair costs New Egypt Home Map of New Egypt Plumsted Township Elks Lodge #2457 Business Directory Churches |
||
"Academic Success"The excellence of the Plumsted Township School District can be measured in many ways. Our performance is outstanding as measured by student results on standardized tests. For the past four years the California Achievement Tests were given to all students in grades three through seven. In all areas (reading, language arts, mathematics, science, etc.) and for all grade levels, our students scored above national and state averages. Last year, for the first time, we increased the level of difficulty of our standardized tests with the initiation of the Terra Nova tests in grade three. These tests are a more sophisticated and difficult version of the CATS. Also designed by Mc Graw Hill, the Terra Nova present our children with problems that require multiple-step problem solving skills that assess a higher level of critical thinking. They also compare our children to some of the finest school districts in the country. We are happy to report that again our third graders performed at or above national averages. This year we will be challenging not only our third but also our fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh graders with the complexities of the Terra Nova. In addition to standardized tests, our students have also begun to take a series of state tests at specific grade levels (fourth, eighth and eleventh). These tests are designed to measure our children’s progress on the New Jersey State Core Curriculum Content Standards. Last year our fourth graders took the ESPA (Elementary School Proficiency Assessment) and scored at or above state averages on all three sub tests (reading, mathematics and science). This was not only for all districts in our “C-D” District Factor Group (similar type districts) but also for all groups in the state. In Grade Eight our children have continued to take the New Jersey Early Warning Test or EWT. Last year the percent passing for our children was higher than the average percent passing for all groups in the State. Ninety-six percent of our students passed all three sub tests. This placed our students within the upper 10% of all students state wide. This year, our eighth grade students took the GEPA (Grade Eight Proficiency Test) in March. Again, this was a raising of the bar by the State in line with the fourth grade ESPA. We are confident that their performance will continue our tradition of academic excellence. Our continued academic successes not only stand on their own merit but also influence many other areas. Our district has been the recipient of several grants over the past three years. They have focused on topics as varied as “Leadership” ( $5,000 from the Dodge Foundation) to “Staff Development in the Arts and Humanities” ($3,000 from the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.) to “Community Service” ($3,000 from Fleet Bank) to the “Grant for Academic Excellence” ($14,000 from the State of New Jersey) All have resulted in the enrichment of the educational program for our children. Our students put their academic skills towards a practical use through their commitment to community service. On the local level, children raise funds to support our Police Department and bring in canned goods to support our food bank. Nationally, they have donated toys to support organizations such as Toys for Tots. Internationally, we have conducted a drive for school supplies for an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. All these projects instill in our children a desire to contribute to the needs of others and serve our community in a positive way. In Plumsted School District we believe that we have accomplished more together than alone. For that reason , we encourage parents and community members to become involved in our programs. We have also given our teachers regular opportunities to work and learn together. This has resulted in an intense examination of what we teach our children and how it holds up to rigorous standards, both State and National. You, as a member of our community, are seeing the results, not only in our many academic successes but also in our deep commitment to the community. |