Thursday, May 23, 2013
West Morris Central faculty, students study abroad without ties to classroom.
There’s value in traveling and global education, especially when it’s not tied to any particular school or district. That’s why West Morris Central English teacher Natalie Vazquez is embarking on a journey – with 10 students in tow – to the other side of the world for two weeks this summer. When Vazquez started teaching at Central a few years ago, she was tasked with instructing mostly freshman, she said. It was their passion for learning that gave her the idea to go abroad. “I was inspired by the kids’ passion and interest in subjects like mythology,” Vazquez said. “So one day, I mentioned flippantly, how cool would it be to see these things we were reading about in person?” It was at that point Vazquez began looking around, and found …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
St. Luke's Parish makes non-full day kindergarten program available to parents.
While full day kindergarten was approved unanimously by the Washington Township school district for the first time this spring, some parents don’t believe it’s the right move, and are taking a different route. That’s why St. Luke’s Parish on West Mill Road, which already runs a preschool program, is opening an alternate program for families who don’t feel their kindergarten-aged students are ready for full days Monday through Friday. “It was the parents’ idea, and a few of them came to me to see if we could start our own program,” said Sue Keating, a preschool teacher at St. Luke’s. “I know the majority of parents in town are in favor of the full day kindergarten, but some aren’t, and that’s why we’re offering this.” The school district, …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Chester mother wants vindication for her daughter, apology from Mendham High School.
What began with a Mendham High School junior’s quest for a varsity cheerleading letter devolved into harassment, bullying, intimidation and retaliation, according to her mother. Ellen Runyon claims her daughter Cassandra was subjected to an escalating pattern of abuse that began shortly after cheerleading tryouts in May 2012 and that school officials didn’t do enough to address the concerns when they were brought to them. School officials admitted that bullying had taken place and pledged corrective action would be taken, but Runyon questions the steps the district took. “The issues began right away after my daughter made the cheerleading team as a member of the varsity competition B squad. Immediately the competition A kids told her that…
Monday, May 20, 2013
Commencement ceremony will include Peace Prize announcement, speech from college president.
The County College of Morris (CCM) will graduate more than 1,100 students Thursday as the college hosts its 44th annual commencement ceremony. CCM President Edward Yaw will serve as the speaker of the event, which begins at 7 p.m. To highlight the graduation ceremony, the school will announce this year's Peace Prize winner, Alisa Brescic of Budd Lake. "Students were invited to create works focused on the general theme of world peace while expressing themselves through a number of artistic forms including writing, music, dance or visual arts," the college noted in a press release. Brescic will be honored for working to advance world peace through her video essay, "The Peace of the U.S." (Watch Brescic's video attached to this article.) This…
Students at Old Farmers Road School participate in gym class fundraiser to help local baby with rare disorder.
Jayden Feichter isn’t even a year old, but he’s spent more time in a hospital and with doctors than many people do in a lifetime. Just seven days after birth, Jayden’s father Adam, a Washington Township police officer, needed to perform CPR on the infant in their home. Fortunately, the trained first responder was able to revive his son, and the family spent most of November in the hospital. Doctors found out the newborn had congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare condition in which the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has treated just 400 patients since 1998. The condition is a disorder that causes low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in infants and children, according to the hospital’s website. Jennifer Feichter, Jayden’s mom, now stays home with…
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West Morris Central High School newspaper staff writers give student perspective after hearing former NBA player Chris Herren share his story.
Former National Basketball Association player and recovering drug addict Chris Herren spent two days at West Morris Central High School, speaking with students and families about his addiction, what it did to his life, and how it affected those around him. Long Valley Patch reported on Herren's presentation to the community, but his talk with the students the following day was designed to hold much more weight. Herren began drinking and smoking as a teen, and that age group has become his primary target to speak to. The following is an article written by two of those students – Courtney Chase and Pat Barron, staff members of The Paw, the student newspaper – who spoke with Herren following his presentation and give their readers a teen …
Sunday, May 19, 2013
"Never allow yourselves to say ‘I’ve done my part,'" Shakespeare scholar tells grads.
Diplomas were awarded to 599 Drew University graduates Saturday on the school's campus in Madison. Michael Bressman, communications associate and special assistant to the president at Drew, shared this account of the ceremony. Drew University’s 145th annual Commencement was held Saturday, marking the graduation of its Class of 2013. The open-air ceremony, which began at 10:30 a.m., was held on the rear lawn of Mead Hall, Drew’s iconic 19th-century campus centerpiece. With University President Vivian A. Bull presiding, graduates heard from keynote speaker Frank Occhigrosso, an acclaimed scholar of Shakespeare who retired this spring after 43 years on the Drew faculty. Speaking to graduates, Occhiogrosso paraphrased Ernest Hemingway, urging…
Friday, May 17, 2013
Hackettstown private K-8 doesn't have enough enrollment to move forward with classes.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
First round of proposals stalled by board-imposed mediation; current contract ends June 30.
The negotiations table is getting a little crowded in the West Morris Regional High School district, and the Teacher’s Association isn’t pleased. West Morris Central teacher and Teacher’s Association president Joyce Hartmann, along with lead negotiator Mike Goffredo, expressed their displeasure with the impasse imposed by the school board’s negotiation committee at the most recent board meeting. The impasse, which essentially means the board wants mediation involved in the negotiations process, came at just the third meeting – far too early in the process, according to Hartmann. “The first meeting was cordial, and the second meeting the Association discussed its proposal,” Hartmann said. “But at the third meeting, we were told in the first…
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The township committee voted to appropriate more than $10,000 for the regional school study.
After much consideration and deliberation, the Mendham Township Committee passed an amended resolution Monday evening giving the township committee the authority to appropriate more than the allotted $10,000 to the regional school study. The resolution originally stated the committee was to offer the same amount of money as the other towns, but Brian Cavanaugh, of Cherry Lane, argued that Mendham Township's savings would be more in the long run — with regards to what he says is $3.3 million that Washington Township receives each year — than the other towns so they should offer more. The number Cavanaugh suggested was about $15,000. He said that if the committee is reticent to go above and beyond what the other towns give it could lead to …
anna
8:22 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
What do you mean by "actual learning"? They are learning every minute they are in school; learning how to listen, follow rules, be respectful to their fellow students and teachers, etc. Snack lasts about 5 minutes for most kids. Even when they "travel" the halls they are learning to stay in line and keep their hands to themselves and be quiet. It is all learning. more ›