RTNJ NEWS - Randolph Township Schools

1
RTNJ NEWS
Randolph Township Schools Newsletter
August, 31 2015
Upcoming Events:
Our First Issue!
Sept. 1: Staff Devel-
Welcome to the first issue of the RTNJ News! This new newsletter will be an informa-
opment/First Day
tional tool for all RTS families, staff and the community to keep everyone informed
for Teachers
about the latest happenings in our district. It will be posted on our website and Facebook page, emailed to parents, staff and students. Members of the Randolph communi-
Fernbrook New Stu-
ty may also subscribe to the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected].
dent Scavenger
Hunt
RHS AP Scores on the Rise
Shongum New Student Scavenger
Randolph Township High School students scored higher than in previous years on Ad-
Hunt
vanced Placement Exams in the 2014-15 school year, representing a 10 percent increase over the previous year in students
Center Grove New
achieving the highest possible scores (4 or
Families Welcome
5) on the exams, Randolph Superintendent
RHS Freshman Orientation Night
of Schools David Browne has announced. In
fact, 93 percent of RHS students who took
an Advanced Placement (AP) exam scored at
Ironia New Student
least a 3 or higher, compared to 61 percent
Welcome Night
of test takers globally and 73 percent of test
Sept. 2: Staff Development
Sept. 3: First day of
school/Childcare
Opens
takers in New Jersey. Students can score a
1-5 on an AP exam, but most colleges require a 3, 4 or 5 on an exam to be eligible to
receive college level credit. RHS students scored a 4 or 5 on 373 exams taken in 2015,
according to Randolph Assistant Superintendent Jennifer A. Fano. In 2015, 288 RHS
students took 585 exams. Both Dr. Browne and Ms. Fano said they were encouraged
by the new test results. “The 10 percent increase in Advanced Placement test scores by
Sept. 4: Center
our students reflects the hard work of our teachers who strive to prepare our students
Grove Pre-K Open
for Advanced Placement exams and higher education,” Dr. Browne said. “It also
House
demonstrates the continued support of our Board of Education for the district’s Ad-
Sept. 7: Labor Day/
vanced Placement program. (For more information, visit rtnj.org.)
No School
New School Start and End Times
Sept. 8: BOE Mtg
The Randolph Board of Education has approved new school start and end times for the 2015-15
Sept. 9: RMS Grade
school year. RHS will be on a 7:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m. schedule; RMS will have an 8:20 a.m. to 3:20
p.m. school day; and Center Grove, Fernbrook, Ironia and Shongum elementary schools will op-
6 Back-to-School
erate on a 9:10 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. schedule. In the event of inclement weather, Randolph
Night
Township Schools will now operate on a 90-minute-delayed opening schedule.
2
Board of Education and REA
Reach Tentative
Agreement
The Randolph Board of
Education and the Randolph Education Association are pleased to announce that they have
reached a tentative
agreement for a new
Ongshu Dutta and Ansh Vakharia show the solar vehicles they built at STEAM.
contract.
Randolph Board of Edu-
Fernbrook Students Inspired at
Summer STEAM Program
More than 65 rising third to fifth grade students at Fernbook Elementary School in Randolph spent three weeks
immersed in engineering, environmental science, performing arts, technology, visual arts and leadership activities
through the Summer STEAM Program.
“Authentic learning happens when students are engaged
and motivated,” said Fernbrook Principal Danielle Soldivieri. “The best thing about Fernbrook’s Summer STEAM
program is that it is student-centered and it gives them a
variety of opportunities to problem-solve and to think critically in areas relevant to each of them. I saw truly authentic learning happening.”
cation President Tammy
MacKay and Randolph
Education Association
Co-Presidents Doug
North and Nick Lios
have signed a tentative
settlement subject to
ratification by both REA
members and approval
by the Board of Education. The contract would
be retroactive and run
from 2014-2017, both
parties said.
Fernbook Teacher Jenise Janulis, the lead teacher and program director for STEAM, worked together with Fernbrook
Media Specialist Michele Savvides to create the program.
Mrs. Janulis thanked Ms. Soldivieri who “saw my vision for
an engaging summer program to excite students with
hands-on problem based learning in STEM and arts fields,”
she said. “The top quality teaching, and positive volunteering, promoted excitement in learning, critical thinking and
independent learners.”
“The Randolph Board of
The program culminated with a special open house celebration for parents which included presentations, a show
and a glimpse into everything the students learned.
worked very hard to
Education values all of
the district’s teachers
and recognizes the importance of everything
they do for township
students,” MacKay said.
“The board and the REA
come to a fair and amicable settlement.”
3
RTNJ Briefs
BUSING: School Busing
information is now available on Genesis. Please
note that many changes
are being made to bus
routes, Parents should
check Genesis on Sept. 2
for updates.
90-Minute Delayed
Openings: In the event
of inclement weather,
Randolph Township
Schools will operate on a
90-minute delayed opening schedule.
RTNJ to Get New Website: The Randolph
Board of Education has
moved forward with an
upgrade of the RTNJ
website. The new Schoolwires website will be
more user-friendly for
parents, students, staff,
administrators and the
community and should be
live this fall.
Beginning September 8,
2015, Randolph Township will begin milling and
paving work on Millbrook
Avenue and Dover Chester Road. These projects
will have a significant impact on traffic. Buses will
be allowed on the roads
to transport students to
school in the morning, but
will be detoured in the
afternoons.
The PTO and PTSO will
send home packets the
first week of school.
Children enjoy the programs offered by the Community School.
Community School Offers Childcare
and Holiday Fun Programs
The Randolph Community School offers an Early Birds program from 7-9 a.m. and an After School Kids or ASK program
from 4-6 p.m. at each elementary school as well as Holiday
Fun programs on Sept. 14, 15, 23 and Oct. 12 when Randolph Schools are closed.
Please note that the Randolph Board of Education recently
approved lower fees to make childcare more affordable for
Randolph families. For information, visit rtnj.org or call (973)
361-0808 ext. 8603.
MS Students Enjoy Walkthrough
RMS students were invited to a walkthrough at the middle
school on Aug. 19 to find their lockers and their classrooms.
A second walkthrough has been scheduled for Aug. 31
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Principals and guidance counselors were available to
hand out schedules and
answer questions. Sixth
grade students said visiting
the middle school was exciting and relieved the
stress of starting at a new
school.
Rachel Liebowitz and mom Lorraine Kent at the MS Walkthrough.
4
Teachers Revise Curriculum
and Create Units for LATIC
Randolph teachers were busy revising curriculum in July
and creating units during LATIC training (Learning Active
Technology Infused Classroom) which focuses on student-centered learning. Elementary Supervisor Katie
Spencer who is pictured below working with teachers,
said both of these initiatives are crucial to best practices
to prepare for the 2015-16 school year. “LATIC empowers my students to be able to work at their respective levels,” Ironia teacher Joan Cirella said.
(Teachers enjoy LATI training above right and below
right, Fernbrook teacher
Dawn Melody
listens to instructional
coach Laurie
Pandorf).
Students Enjoy Center Grove Summer Fun
Students enrolled in the extended school year program at the Center Grove Elementary
School enjoyed many special activities this past summer. These included learning about trucks
and tractors supplied by the Board of Education Building & Grounds Department with
groundskeeper Kyle Smith and getting up close with live reptiles at a special presentation by
Snakes, Scales & Turtle Tales. The extended school year program is part of the Randolph
Special Services Department. (Below, a child sits on a tractor. And Diane Dayer, a district ESY
teacher, gets up close with a snake, impressing all of the students in the program.)
5
Randolph Hires New Administrators
The Randolph Board of Education hired several new administrators for the 2015-16 school year.
They are pictured, above, left to right: Jonathan Olsen, who became the new Director of Secondary Education & Innovative Learning Specialist last May; Ben Horwitz, a high school English
teacher who took over Olsen’s position as Humanities Supervisor for grades 9-12 this summer
and Walter Curioni, right, the new Director of Special Services. Other new administrators, pictured below left, are Ironia Principal David Kricheff, formerly an assistant principal at the middle
school, now replaced by Liana Rozsa, below right, Michelle Telischak, the new vice principal at
Ironia and Center Grove elementary schools, pictured bottom left, and Frank Perrone, the new
Visual and Performing Arts Supervisor, pictured bottom right.
Randolph Hires New
Transportation Director
6
The Randolph Board of Education has approved
the appointment of John F. Aymil as the new
transportation director effective November 2,
2015. Mr. Aymil will succeed Donna Werge who
will retire on October 30. "Mr. Aymil will bring
great skill and diplomacy to his position," Superintendent of Schools David Browne said at the
board of education meeting on August 18.
New Full-Day Kindergarten
Randolph Township Schools will introduce a new
full-day kindergarten program this fall. Members
of the Randolph Building & Grounds Department
have been busy renovating and preparing the
rooms for the students. (In this photo, Center
Grove Principal Mario Rodas takes Board of Education President Tammy MacKay for a tour of a
new kindergarten classroom at Center Grove
Elementary School.)
Freshmen Enjoy Team
Building, Ropes Course
Members of the Randolph High School Class of
2019 shared things about themselves, played
games and engaged in team-building activities
including a small ropes course in a special
Freshmen Summer Orientation Program at
Randolph High School.
The program, which also included school tours
and lunch, was open to all 389 members of
the freshmen class August 20, 21 or 24 at the
high school.
Freshman Paul Ward said he enjoyed all of the
activities ,“We have learned that we can always go to upperclassmen for help if we need
it,” he said. “Attending the orientation program will make me more comfortable on the
first day of school.”
The program was organized by Tomorrow’s
Leaders, a group of seniors trained by faculty
advisors.
7
Marching Band Prepares
for 2015-16 Season
The RHS Marching Rams have been
busy in August at band camp at RHS
and in Pennsylvania learning their new
routine “The Music of Cirque Du Soleil.” The students spent hours re-
hearsing music from “The Journey of
Man” and “La Nouba” and working on
their marching. Director Dawn Russo
said she is excited for the season and
the growing enrollment, which has
reached 142 members this season.
New Teacher Orientation
More than 43 new teachers enjoyed
the special two-day orientation program at Randolph High School Aug.
25 and 26. (Left, Superintendent
David Browne talks to teachers,
right, psychologist Cosette
Richman works with ESL
Teacher Jose Rodriguez, bottom left, Fernbrook Principal
Danielle Soldvieri talks to
teachers and Vice Principal
Kristin Mueller listens during
training.)
8
Jadyn and Chase
Lorent enjoy their visit
to Ironia.
Ironia Elementary School families enjoyed an open house on Aug. 27. Left, new kindergartener Andrew Swanick was excited to find his name on the wall outside of his classroom. Right, Principal David
Kricheff and Vice Principal Michelle Telischak welcome Sophie Nicolas and daughter Agathe to Ironia.
Randolph Superintendent of Schools David
In August, 25 RMS Students en-
Browne, pictured below, welcomes district fami-
gaged in technology projects as part of the RMS
lies to the 2015-16 school year. Please click on
Summer Success pro-
this link to read his welcome letter.
gram. Students designed, built and raced
solar-powered model
cars and did other
STEM activities. “The
RMS Success Program
helps to build relationships through teacher-student
mentorships which support students’ academic success,” said math teacher Tasha Depp. The program
was made possible through Title 1 Funding.
New HS Staff
Left to right, top row, DJ
Catalano (PE), Kristin
Poff (English), Cara
Canfield (English & theater), Dominick LaCapra
(tech), Richard Hymson
(physics), John Lade,
Christa Akers (speech
therapist) and Robert
Weber (legal studies).
Bottom row, Michael
Lichtenfeld(music),
Michelle Belfiore
(guidance cslr), Brooke
Pasiak (English), Sandy
Zarillo (math), David
Guinness (ASL), teacher
Brian Hoesly , Melissa
McHugh (soc.stud.) and
Krista Seanor (biology).
9
New Shongum Teacher
Shongum Principal Cliff Burns welcomes new elementary school
teacher Kathleen Binazeski at the
recent teacher orientation.
New MS Staff: RMS Principal Dennis Copeland, right, and RMS Vice Principals
Rams Athletic Season: The
Michael LoRicco and Liana Rozsa, left, welcome new staff, left to right, Michelle
fall sports seasons will soon be
Gates (LA), Erin Maier (LA), Maya Furman (school psychologist), Emily Seagraves
(science), Lenay Sisto (LA), Jacob Burlas (LA), teacher Noelle Congero and Ralph
Scimeca (science).
getting under way. For more information, please visit our website.
For athletic schedules, click here.
R+A+M=RAM
Fernbrook: Principal Danielle Soldvieri, left, and Vice
Principal Kristin Mueller, right, welcome teacher Jessica
Garis , Jose Rodriguez (ESL), Roberto Mendez (art) and
teachers Jennifer Steinert and Carolyn Bieganousky.
Ironia: Below left, Principal David Kricheff, left, and
Vice Principal Michelle Telischak, right, welcome Joanna
Scott (2nd Grade), Matthew Ojeda (music) and teacher
Rebecca Rowe.
Center Grove: Below, Principal Mario Rodas, right, Vice
Principal Michelle Telischak, left, welcome, left to right,
teacher Danielle Tromba, psychologist Cosette Richman,
teachers Brittany Dungan and Kimberly Stark.