On Wednesday, January 7 Dr. Petrosino met with the Special Programs Committee. Topics included issues related in No Child Left Behind (Ms. Jennifer Lopez) as well as the IB-MYP (Ms. Kate Dominique). At the meeting, final decisions were made on two important programs as well, Saturday U and John Hopkins Expansion.Saturday U- Mr. Gary Enrico reported that entrance criteria for Saturday U were either a score of 250 on NJ ASK or an "Advanced Proficient" designation on the Terra Nova (deepening on grade level). 98 students were accepted into the program. There will be an orientation for parents on January 10 and the first day of classes will be Saturday, January 17. This year we have added 3 new courses: Geography, Animation, and Etymology in addition to a revised Computer Science course and a Mathematics and Science course. The program will begin with a free breakfast for children from 8:30AM-9AM and the classes will run from 9AM-noon. Students will be dismissed at noon without lunch. The program will run for 16 weeks and conclude on May 31st. Admittedly, the roll out for Saturday U is about 3 weeks behind schedule but with the addition of 3 new courses and a major revision of a fourth---there is a general sense of being responsive to a revised curriculum and course offering.
Johns Hopkins University Expansion- Ms. Hillenbrand reported that testing is completed and that approximately 36 students have been accepted for the John Hopkins Expansion. Teachers have been assigned and the program will now be housed at Wallace and Calabro Schools in addition to Connors School. This will be an afterschool program and will run from 2:45pm-3:45pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Wallace School and from 2:45pm-3:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at Calabro School. The Expansion program will begin on January 16, 2009. For more information please contact Ms. Hillenbrand at 201-356-3688
Picture: Automatic garage robot at work- Garden Street Garage
