CREST HAVEN – Cape May County Technical School District held its board meeting June 17. The board presented a variety of topics including revenues, expenses, bids, contracts, and various administrative reports.
Superintendent Dr. Nancy Hudanich informed the board of the celebration of the GED and HSE (High School Equivalency) commencement which occurred May 29 at the Performing Arts Center.
Nancy Wheeler Driscoll, director of curriculum instruction, welcomed and introduced guests while School Board President Robert L. Boyd and Hudanich presented graduates and the awards.
Lataysha Sherretta, former NJ High School credential recipient was guest speaker, and Tammy DeFranco, director of Atlantic Cape Community College CMCC Student Services, offered closing remarks and congratulations along with Hudanich.
The district is committed to the implementation and success of the program. Supervisor of Continuing and Adult Education Laura Elston explained, “The HSE (High School Equivalency) is the replacement term for the former GED (general educational development). The New Jersey Board of Education approved three different testing companies for issuing high school equivalency diplomas. All the new tests are updated to meet the Common Core standards and so were expected to be more difficult which caused anxiety about how examinees would do on the new test. So far, our results have been good… similar to the results on the previous GED. However, there are additional changes to take place and the pass rate could still be affected.”
Elston said “We are issuing the HSE- TASC- Test Assessing Secondary Completion which is one of the approved versions but have not started administering the test on the computer yet. We plan to start that in mid-July. We also offer a preparation (tutoring) program for the HSE at several locations, including the district campus but it is not running during the summer in our district campus. There are some other locations that will continue some limited schedules. This information is on our district web page (www.capemaytech.com).”
Driscoll affirmed that the district’s tutoring program, “is very successful…it includes academic tutoring as well as study skills… how to organize and how to study… the after school tutoring program extends the student school day with both optional and mandatory tutoring sessions four days a week during the school year. While the tutoring program is in session, the students are also provided bus transportation home. Hundreds of student tutoring sessions are assigned each marking period, and in addition to optional and mandatory assignments, any student in the school is able to stay after to seek extra help as needed. The tutoring sessions are not only divided by content areas of math, history, and other subjects but the sessions target specific courses.”
“A tutoring student attends by course, such as algebra, geometry, chemistry, across content areas. Sessions are also provided to target study and organizational skills. The data from the tutoring sessions is used to inform instruction, target professional development and identify students in need of additional support systems through Guidance. Incoming students who participate in the high school’s summer Bridging program also begin the school year with tutoring sessions to offer support in the transition to high school,” said Driscoll.
In addition to the GED and HSE graduation, the administrative reports also cited the success of an outside booster club for fund raising, and an Iron Chef competition which was met with enthusiasm by participants and the public as well.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
