Public school students in North Bergen and Guttenberg have a few more days of summer this week and then return to class on Thursday, Sept. 8. Thursday and Friday are full days of school. Students in Guttenberg attend Anna L. Klein Elementary School and go to North Bergen High School starting in ninth grade.
According to North Bergen Schools Superintendent Dr. George Solter and Guttenberg Schools Superintendent Michelle Rosenberg, the students have a lot to look forward to this year.
North Bergen schools are adding wifi to all school buildings and trying to make sure that every student has a computer available to work on throughout the day, the way students do in Guttenberg. Rosenberg said each student from fourth to eighth grade in Guttenberg already has one Chromebook, a Google laptop that the district has been using for two years.
North Bergen received around 1,500 new Google Chromebook laptops and Chromebox computers this year in addition to the thousands they have.
“It’s important, because this is the way education is going,” Dr. Solter said. “It’s a blended environment where students are working on laptops at their desk answering more advanced questions.”
Both districts are using Google Classroom, which allows teachers to create classes, distribute assignments, send feedback, and monitor everything all in one place: the computers.
“We are trying to go as paperless as possible,” Rosenberg said.
“They’ll be doing research at their desk and answering questions with facts,” Dr. Solter said.
“Teachers can monitor students while they’re working, and they can see every child’s assignment everywhere,” Rosenberg said. “And all the work saves to Google Drive.”
Every education employee in the district changed their e-mails to Google in order to save their work automatically to Google Drive, which is easily accessible.
Math games and coaches
The North Bergen schools now have new math coaches to help teachers model math assignments in a real, fun way, Dr. Solter said.
“These coaches show teachers and students how math should be used regularly,” Dr. Solter said. “There are also math games on the computers for first and fifth graders.”
The coaches and games were previously available to fourth and fifth graders, but now have easy challenges for first through third graders.
The STEM Academy, a program for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math, has been updated in both school systems. “The classes go on field trips to places like Stevens [in Hoboken], where they see where their math works in real life,” Dr. Solter said.
College credits and more
North Bergen High School is also working with Hudson County Community College to offer classes to high school students for up to 15 college credits. The classes could include culinary arts, accounting, or hospitality.
“Students can have their Associate’s Degree in a year and a half at a greatly reduced price,” Dr. Solter said.
In the new section of Anna Klein School in Guttenberg, STEM labs will be ready in 2017. STEM labs could include forensic labs, or computer programs to analyze clues or build bridges.”These labs are hands-on with careers people didn’t always have,” Rosenberg said. “Kids like forensics.”
“It’s going to be a positive year.” — Michelle Rosenberg
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Rosenberg also said the school system is preparing to add more community-based learning programs for inclined students. “All eighth graders, hopefully, by next year will have to do community based learning. It’s important for them to know to give back to the community, like playing cards at a nursing home, and learn about the people in the community.”
New principal
Anna Klein Elementary School has a new principal, Keith Petry, who was promoted from supervisor. A teacher, Ilvea Cruz, was promoted to replace him. Fifth through eighth graders have a new disciplinarian and curriculum supervisor, Robert Correggio, who was also promoted within.
“It’s going to be a positive year, even with a new team. They are motivated, good teachers. The best candidates are here, and it builds camaraderie to advance the staff,” Rosenberg said.
“We’re all working on getting the parents more involved too,” Rosenberg said. Parents can now attend meetings four times a year to learn how to help kids with homework, hear guest speakers, or fill out surveys to help the district see which programs children and parents enjoy.
New wings
Most North Bergen schools now have air conditioners in the cafeterias, auditoriums, and some offices.
New wings have been added to North Bergen’s McKinley Elementary, John F. Kennedy Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and Robert Fulton Elementary, with 100 classrooms altogether.
Classrooms and a guidance wing with computers have been added in the high school basement. Students and counselors can now do more career and college research, Dr. Solter said.