As we enter the second half of our 2010-2011 school year, I would like to share with you, using the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s LEARNS acronym, the state of Clinton Elementary School.

L – Leadership for learning – Our staff is committed to working collaboratively to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students. As principal of Clinton School, I believe that our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are paramount in our quest to fulfill our vision of having every Clinton student reach his or her fullest potential and possess 21st century skills. Through these communities, during our monthly PLC meetings, we have differentiated our professional growth in areas of teaching and learning that will enable us to increase our knowledge of best practices, analyze data to drive our instruction, increase our use of technology, create cognitively challenging centers of learning in our classrooms, and help our struggling students learn how to learn.

National Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards. We have two teachers who achieved National Board Certification last year and one this year who is working to achieve Certification. Several other staff members continue to increase their knowledge of teaching and learning in graduate and post-graduate coursework and certifications.

E – Evaluation and support for effective practice – We continue our administrative work in creating a common language around effective teaching using the Framework for Teaching as our comprehensive tool to support the growth and professional learning of our teachers. The observation and evaluation documents we use, based on the Framework, allow us to evaluate the quality of teaching, provide specificity on teachers’ performance, and include the Framework language in our discussions and meetings around student learning.

A – Access to college preparatory coursework for every student – At every level we need to include students in programs to meet their needs and advance them accordingly. With this in mind, even with all our budget concerns, we have maintained full-day kindergarten. I will be meeting this spring with the leaders of the pre-schools that our students attend to discuss our mutual expectations for the behavioral, social, and academic readiness we hope for Clinton’s youngest students. These are important steps in preparing our youngest students for success in learning.

We have three self-contained and seven inclusion classes to include our special needs students in the least restrictive environment so they have every opportunity to engage in the high-level learning we expect for every Clinton student.

We have in-school academic intervention for identified students in first and second grades and an after- school academic intervention program for our first, fourth, fifth, and ELL students who need additional support. Our enrichment program includes language arts enrichment for all fourth grade students, math enrichment for identified students, and math and language arts enrichment for identified fifth grade students. This year, we will be working to pilot enrichment activities for students in first, second, and third grades.

Our work does not end in June. We have enhanced summer school offerings for identified regular and special education students to offer them opportunities to increase their knowledge and skill levels in math, language arts, and technology.

R – Rigorous and consistent standards-based curriculum – New Jersey has adopted the Common Core State Standards. The standards reflect the knowledge and skills that our students need for success in college and careers. Standards are a first step – a key building block – to help teachers build the best lessons and environments for their classrooms. Common standards also help students and parents by setting clear and realistic goals for success. We continue our work to ensure our curricula remain aligned with the standards.

Our Clinton staff has been involved in on-going professional development to ensure that the new language arts curriculum will result in a highly literate community of readers and writers while simultaneously addressing the New Jersey Curriculum Content Standards.

Our math curriculum is under review this year. As the results of last year’s audit are analyzed, we will maintain what has been successful in the past and work on new curriculum and instructional methods that meet the needs of every Clinton student. This spring, we will be involved in workshops to review an updated version of our Everyday Math program as well as
two other elementary math programs.

Our related arts program continues to blossom as many families experienced during our second annual Related Arts Back-to-School Night. Our students’ talent in music, art, physical education, and media are evident in their work and displays in the hallways, their choral, instrumental, and acting performances on stage, and the healthy lifestyles they adhere to.

N – aNalyze data on student learning – We continue the implementation of the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). This classroom-based assessment enables our K-2 teachers to help identify students’ skills and plan for timely instruction of crucial skills, fluency, and comprehension.
The data from the DRA assessments provides us with objective information to identify the strengths and weaknesses of every
K -2 student. This information helps us plan for the academic intervention reading program for our first and second grade students.

In analyzing the NJASK data and the district assessments for our 3-5 students, we identify trends/patterns, diagnose needs, and adjust instruction in order to keep all Clinton students engaged and successful. Our academic-intervention instruction is based on data from the assessments and target-skill areas where students are below proficient.

Based on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Accountability Requirements for the 2009-2010 school year, Clinton Elementary did make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

S – Support the Learning Environment – Creating environments conducive to learning and reflecting our needs for the 21st century is an essential part of our work. Maintaining classrooms that are “kid-friendly” is important not only for safety but for teaching and learning. In doing so, we remain conscious of the budget restraints as we look for resources and funding from outside sources and grants. Clinton staff members wrote several proposals for ACHIEVE Foundation grants this year and received eight grants written by 12 Clinton teachers,
Ms. Bodnar, and me.

Technology has become a critical component of our work and our students’ learning. Smartboards are now in the music room, library, and all fourth and fifth grade classrooms with plans to
do the same for third grade next year. Thanks to the generosity
of our PTA, our teachers and students have access to iPods,
iPod Touches, Mimeos, and MacBooks.

We continue to take great pride in our efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle. On behalf of our staff and students, I thank you for your continued support in our efforts and your dedication for a better world for your children.

Spring is just around the corner….

Patty