School Days

Compiled by: Jen Campbell
Morey’s Piers is bringing “FUN” back to fundraising with its 2010-2011 School FUNd Raiser program – in full swing now through the end of March 2011.
Morey’s FUNd Raiser program offers school groups throughout the region the chance to sell the gift of “fun” as a way of raising money for their various projects and initiatives. Through Morey’s exclusive School FUNd Raiser, schools can earn an unlimited amount of money by selling super-discounted tickets for Morey’s Piers amusements and waterparks.
Fundraiser tickets are priced in a way that allows school groups to generate revenue while providing their “customers” with a discount to Morey’s rides and waterparks.
Morey’s School FUNd Raiser program also provides each individual school the freedom to determine ticket price sales for their individual fundraisers.
As if raising money isn’t enough for schools throughout the region, Morey’s will also donate a SMART board to the top three fundraising schools as an extra incentive.
Korri Carlson, Middle Township PTA President, says, “This fundraiser program has been a great success for us. We have profited approximately $8,000 from two years of doing this fundraiser. The additional revenue has been used for transportation and entrance fees for field trips and assemblies that have been put on at the schools. As one of the top selling schools for two years in a row, the PTA has received two Smartboards as well!”
Schools interested in enrolling should email schoolprograms@moreyspiers.com or call 609-729-3700 x1195.
Bishop McHugh
Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School, in Ocean View, celebrated Catholic Schools Week recently. This year’s theme was “A+ for America Catholic Schools.”
The school kicked off the week with an Open House brunch attended by prospective families and the Bishop McHugh Regional community on Jan. 30. Each day of the week had a theme and many activities were planned to include the teachers, students, alumni, parents, grandparents and the community.
Some of the highlights of the week were Grandparents Day celebrated Feb. 3 with a musical performed by the Pre-K through second graders and Beach Blanket Bingo played by the students on Friday.
Several days during the week students displayed projects they have completed as the result of the school’s “Workshop Wednesday” program. Each Wednesday since September students have been learning about recycling and its benefits.
Other activities included a Scholastic Book Fair, student/parent breakfast, magic show, bullying workshop and a Mass celebrated at the conclusion of the week.
Dennis Township
Much like how sculptures and historic figures came to life in the movie Night at the Museum, poems and exciting stories came alive for fourth graders at Dennis Township’s “Night at the Library”.
Fourth grade teacher, Jen Fetsick, and the DT ATP committee organized this wonderful program. Ms. Fetsick was very pleased with the turn out on Friday, January 21st and said, “It was such a success. We had even more children participate than last year.”
Their parents and several of our local politicians in the Elementary School Library joined nineteen fourth graders. Senator VanDrew and Committee members Donahue, Crippen and O’Conner read Diary of a Wimpy Kid as guest readers to a captive audience around a campfire. Students also rotated around various writing centers to enjoy poetry, short stories and graphic storytelling.
After having the opportunity to compose their own original written pieces, students had the chance to read them to other participants. Finally, students concluded their evening with a library exploration, in which they polished their research skills by participating in “computer races” with a partner. Much of the writing that they produced now hangs in the fourth grade hallway of our school.
Glenwood Avenue
The students at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School supported a great cause recently. Students in Mrs. Carroll’s, Mrs. Burgin’s, and Mrs. Ridgway’s classes made Valentine cards and donated candy, chapsticks, wipes, and microwavable foods to our South Jersey troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also, other grade levels made cards in the classroom, cards on the computer, and donated various items.
Lite Rock 96.9 WFPG and America Recreation Military Services created this project. These organizations are responsible for the delivery. The second graders, as well as other student participants at the school, were excited to spread some Valentine cheer overseas to the brave men and women protecting us here at home.
Margaret Mace
Mrs. Clarke’s and Mrs. Golden’s Kindergarten classes celebrated Chinese New Year, the year of the rabbit, with fortune cookies, chopsticks, decorations!
The students wore red for good luck and learned about the many traditions that are celebrated during Chine New Year.
Ocean City
The Ocean City Community Center recently held a Scavenger Hunt for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students from the Ocean City Intermediate School.
Thirty students participated in teams to look for clues in each of the facilities within the Community Center. The Ocean City Aquatic & Fitness Center, the Ocean City Free Public Library, The Ocean City Arts Center and the Ocean City Historical Museum hosted the Scavenger Hunt.
Wildwood Catholic
The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), based in Philadelphia, Pa., announced that Wildwood Catholic High School in recently earned re-accreditation. The school, which has been accredited since 1956, completed an intensive three-year process culminating with a three and one-half day visit to the school by a volunteer validation team of educators appointed by Middle States.
During the visit, the Middle States team met with and interviewed stakeholders of the school including teachers, students, parents and administrators, as well as representatives of the Diocese of Camden. Team members toured the facilities, studied the school’s strategic plans for improvement and other documents related to the school’s work, and observed teaching and learning in classrooms.
“This school joins a prestigious network of Middle States accredited schools committed to a more fair and comprehensive assessment of achievement and success that goes beyond standardized test scores and students’ performances to encompass programs, services and facilities,” said MSA-CESS President Henry G.Cram, Jr., Ed.D. “This school community should be commended for their commitment to ensure that every student reach his or her fullest potential.”
To become accredited through a MSA-CESS protocol, a school must meet the Middle States Association’s standards for: mission/beliefs/objectives, governance and leadership, organizational design and staff, educational programs, learning media services and technology, student services, student life and activities, facilities, health and safety, finances, assessment of student learning and planning.
According to Cram, school quality is best measured by individual student growth over time and the value added to each child by the educational experience the school provides.
“Accreditation can help a school and its community to understand better not only how it is doing, but more importantly, learn what it needs to do to improve, a key element of most state assessments,” said Cram.
For more information about accreditation by the Middle States Association visit www.middlestates.org.