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A Message from the Superintendent
Dr. Harry Groveman
Saddle Brook is a comprehensive K-12
district comprised of three K-6 elementary schools (Franklin,
Long and Smith), Washington School, which houses a number of our
early intervention special education programs and Saddle Brook
Middle/High School which houses grades 7-12. Grades 7-8 are
located in one wing of the building and operate independently
from the high school. Our student population continues to
increase each year with our total population expected to surpass
1850 total students during the 2008-2009 school year. Based on
that enrollment figure, Saddle Brook would still be considered a
small suburban school district.
Although fully accredited by the State
Department of Education, the Saddle Brook Schools will undergo a
new State Monitoring Program this fall. This program known as
the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC)
will evaluate our school system in the areas of Operations,
Governance, Fiscal Management, Instruction, Program and
Personnel. We are looking forward to this independent
assessment of our schools as an opportunity to review every
detail of our district. This assessment will provide us with
the chance to reaffirm what we do well while also affording us
an evaluation of areas in need of improvement.
As the 2008-2009 school year begins to
unfold, keep in mind that The Saddle Brook Schools offers its
students a comprehensive academic program in a small school
environment that facilitates personalized attention and numerous
opportunities. From clubs and programs that promote
technological careers, civic responsibility, leadership,
journalism and the fine and performing arts to a full slate of
interscholastic sports programs, Saddle Brook offers each
student the opportunity to be an active partner in their own
education.
Some of the highlights of the 2007-2008
school year are as follows:
·
Due in large part to the successful passage of the
school budget, the 2007-2008 school year saw the following:
ü
The installation and operation of a new technology
- related career - based laboratory known as “Synergistics” for
grades 7- 8 and “Pathways” for grades 9 – 12.
ü
The replacement and upgrade of all elementary
laboratory computers.
ü
The addition of five new teachers to control class
size as our population continues to grow.
·
On the curriculum front we experienced the
successful integration of the newly updated and revised K-12
Science and World Language curricula, while also completing
curriculum revisions and realignments in the areas of, K-12
Health and Physical Education.
·
The successful completion of our two-year
improvement plan to strengthen writing and math skills at all
three district elementary schools.
·
The successful introduction and implementation of
a new SAT prep course at Saddle Brook High School.
·
The continued expansion of our Senior Option
program that allows twelfth grade students the ability to earn
college credit, intern or mentor into a variety of careers and
programs during their final year of High School. 2007-2008 saw
an increase in the number of students taking college courses
whereby they were able to receive high school course credit as
well as college credit.
·
The successful introduction of two programs to
enrich our elementary science and math curricula; as “A World In
Motion” and “Engineering is Elementary” were both launched in
2007-2008, receiving praise from both students and faculty.
·
The dedication and initiation of our Middle/High
School Court-yard Project that witnessed the conversion
of our unused inner court-yard into a certified Wildlife Habitat
that serves as a science based hands-on learning center with
links to horticulture, biology, meteorology, ornithology and
ecology.
·
Student Performance that once again exceeded State
standards in all areas, based on tests administered to our
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and eleventh
graders.
·
Our successful infusion into the State Department
of Education’s LEARNIA program that will enhance our faculty’s
abilities to conduct formative assessments on a student by
student and class by class level to help our schools meet the
Core Curriculum Content Standards put forth by the State of New
Jersey.
·
Our successful integration of the
synergistic/pathway laboratory program for our middle and high
school students, that provides a ‘hands-on’ collaborative
experience in programs related to engineering, forensics,
robotics, and multi-media production.
·
The fact that 91 % of the graduating class of 2008
will be attending a post-secondary college program this fall and
that the class of 2008 accepted over $1,218,000 in scholarship
money.
While there are many other achievements
that can be listed, the 2007-2008 school year helped lay the
foundations to what will be an exceptional 2008-2009 school
year. With a dedicated faculty and the continued support of
this community, we approach the 2008-2009 school year, committed
to the ideal that all students deserve the right to achieve to
their full potential.
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