Ventnor Educational Community Complex.
With summer vacation in the rear-view mirror, Downbeach students have a lot to look forward to during the 2019-2020 school year. In addition to donning a new pair of sneakers and meeting up with their friends, there are changes in store in both the Margate and Ventnor school districts that promise to have a positive effect on student learning and behavior.
In Margate, the principals of the William H. Ross Elementary and Eugene A. Tighe Middle schools have switched buildings. Principal Audrey Becker, who was successful in getting the Tighe School recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School two years ago, will be heading up the elementary school, while Ryan Gaskill will serve his second year as a Margate principal at the middle school.
Becker, who spent most of her career in the middle school is looking forward to new challenges, and so is Gaskill, Interim Superintendent Thomas Baruffi said.
“Audrey will be a big help in getting the kids ready for middle school,” Baruffi said.
Becker has been involved in expanding the district’s LinkIt assessment program, which allows teachers to conduct in-classroom assessments that can “benchmark” student achievement through the year and before they take the new statewide assessment next spring that replaced the PARCC test.
“Last year, we tested first graders at the end of the school year to determine their strengths and weaknesses so we could tailor interventions. This year, we will expand LinkIt to grades two to four,” he said.
The district will also be using the STOPit app, which was provided to the district by the NJ School Boards Association at no cost. The app gives students a pro-active way to anonymously report incidents of concern using their cell phones. The app automatically notifies the guidance counselor and principal of any bullying, harassment, drug or alcohol use, or report that someone could hurt themselves or others, Baruffi said, and gives school leaders a way to tamp down problems before they spiral out of control.
Becker said the theme of this year’s PRIDE program at the Ross School is “Peace, Love, Ross.” Each month students will be recognized for positive character traits based on a monthly theme that spells out the word R-I-G-H-T-E-O-U-S.
At the Tighe School, Gaskill will be working to get every student involved in at least one extracurricular program.
“Every kid will be involved,” Baruffi said. “Not everyone is interested in sports or being in the school play, but there is something for every student to be involved in.”
Baruffi said involvement in co-curricular or extra-curricular activities will help every student succeed.
The district will welcome 40 kindergarten students this year, up from 20 last year, in two full-day sessions.
“That’s a nice number for us,” he said.
Ventnor Superintendent Eileen Johnson has lots in store for students at the Ventnor Educational Community Complex.
“Meeting the needs of our students is our number one priority,” she said.
The district created an additional pre-kindergarten class funded through a state pre-k expansion grant.
“Freckles” will be popping out at all levels in English and mathematics. With the Freckle internet-based learning program, students will start the school year with an online assessment and subsequent sessions will include problems geared toward each student’s individual skill level.
Kindergarten and first graders will also be using the Really Great Reading program, which includes phonics and phonemic awareness. Third and fourth grades will use Fountas and Pinnell classroom system for reading.
The district has hired additional teachers to support basic skills in both schools, and teachers will be grouped into professional learning communities to focus on ways to deliver data-driven instruction. A new STEM initiative will be implemented in all grades.
In technology, elementary students will be working on new computers and interactive televisions, and most students will continue building their Microsoft Office 365 skills using one-on-one devices.
The district will focus on increasing daily attendance, encouraging students to become a HERO (Here, Every day, Ready to learn and On time).
Middle schoolers will have new vocal and instrumental music programs and the mathematics curriculum has also been updated with Big Idea textbooks.
Johnson said it would be her last year in education as she plans to retire at the end of the school year, she said. She has been in education for 32 years, half of them in the Ventnor schools, she said.
“I have been blessed to have serve the community of Ventnor and am looking forward to spending time with my family,” she said.
Johnson has a grandson, Elliot, and a new granddaughter on the way.
