Clinton Township Newsletter

1 2 O c t O b e r 2 0 1 4 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com C L I N T O N T O W N S H I P S C H O O L N E W S www.ctsd.k12.nj.us A L e t t e r f r o m Dr. Drucilla Clark, Superintendent of Schools c l I n t o n t o W n s h I p p t a F a m I l y p o r t r a I t F u n d r a I s e r The Clinton Township PTA is sponsoring its annual Family Por- trait Fundraiser in partnership with Tomorrow's Memories, LLC. Tomorrow's Memories specializes in "on-location" portrait photography, using our beautiful Hunterdon County as their studio backdrop! The fundraiser is a community-wide event open to all. Update your family portrait, order holiday gifts and cards AND support your PTA! Tomorrow's Memories range of services includes everything from your free 8x10 to custom wall portraits. • APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING and SESSION FEE: Appointments may be booked using Tomorrow's Memories' on-line scheduling system; payment of your ses- sion fee by credit card is required at sign up. Appointments are made BY LOCATION. The $49 Session Fee includes a 20 minute photo session, two poses and approximately 20 images from which to choose your free 8x10 (value $26.95). Complete details are available on www.TMPortraits.net "SPECIALS" page. • Purchase a digital file with all of your images for the opportunity to create your own holiday cards and gifts, OR place your wall portrait, prints and holiday card order with Tomorrow's Memories to take advantage of their retouching services and professional photo lab processing. Photos may also be ordered directly from the on-line previewing website service. • NEW! WEEKDAY "BUSINESS PORTRAIT" evenings for a quick and con- venient update for your Linked-In profile, FaceBook page, company directory, or website. $49 includes donation to the PTA: Two poses, approximately 8-12 images on a CD with copyright release. Retouching extra. Sample portraits from different venues will be posted on the Tomorrow's Memories website: www.TMPortraits.net, SPECIALS page. Clinton Township PTA contact: Nancy Winter, 908.238.1535. t o p a r t I c I p a t e : Scheduling your Fall Appointment one of three ways: 1) On-line: www.appointmentquest.com/provider/2170098921 2) Telephone (especially if you have questions): 908.537.2080 3) Email: TMPortraits@comcast.net DATE FRI SAT SUN 9/26 - 9/28 4 - 6 pm 8:30-10:30 am, 4 - 6 pm 8:30-10:30 am, 4 - 6 pm 10/10 - 10/12 4 - 6 pm 4 - 6 pm 8:30-10:30 am, 4 - 6 pm Every time I pick up a newspaper, read a magazine or look at a journal online, I am reading something about the "Common Core." The term is being thrown around as if it were a dirty word, when it is really referring to the recently raised curriculum standards. I have written about these standards before in this column. I do believe they are a game-changer in many ways for teachers and students and families. However, they are not the end of the world as we know it and should not be demonized or create pandemonium in the streets. In fact, if you have a few moments, look through the latest issue of New Jersey Monthly to read up on some varying opinions on the subject. Yes, there is more rigor, but it is a rigor of thought, not really additional work, but a way of thinking that evokes higher levels of analysis and understanding. Curriculum has always included this process, so it is not new. What is new is that much of the concern comes in at the younger grades, where more is required earlier. If you are an early childhood and brain development person, you may have concerns that we are asking too much, too soon and in ways our student's brains have not developed fully. Kindergarten is certainly not the same as the old days of snacks and naps. Snacks yes, naps never. There is no time. In order to meet the standards, more time is needed and there will be solid arguments made for longer school years and longer school days everywhere. I can hear the cries about the loss of childhood, but that is not so. Childhood and magic happens everywhere, especially in good classrooms with good instruction. The "Common Core" will not change that in Clinton Township. So, yes - there will be challenges in education and instruction is develop- ing in new ways. We will be challenged to manage instructional time and meet the demands of the new standards. It will take time, creativity and some changes in the way all schools approach learning. It will also take a new commitment on the part of parents to better understand the learning process and make it a priority in our homes. We live in a busy society with competing pressures that often distract us all from the main focus of the importance of growing our children's brains. The ability to not only read, but discuss, debate and write about what we learn is a priority for all of us. It is most especially important for the generation we are raising to not only compete in a global society, but a gen- e r a t i o n t h a t m a y b e f a c i n g w o r l d challenges we have never seen before. I t w i l l r e q u i r e a n e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m that truly develops great minds and a family system that builds resiliency so that we can build a better future. I am not ready to pounce negatively on the "Common Core," but I am ready to make it work for the future of a stronger and brighter society. I am also ready to learn what parts of this curriculum need to be reworked for children and what is right on target for the best brain development. Let's give it a chance and use the best of it to get even better! With appreciation and gratitude, Dr. Drucilla Clark, Superintendent of Schools email: dclark@ctsd.k12.nj.us Dear Residents of Clinton Township: T H E C L I N T O N T O W N S H I P F O U N D AT I O N F O R E D U C AT I O N A L E X C E L L E N C E F U N D R A I S E R The Clinton Township Foundation for Educational Excellence invites you to a fundraising cocktail party at Hawk Pointe Golf Club on Saturday, November 15 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm! The evening will include live music, gourmet food, and wine and beer open bar. There will also be a silent art and basket auction. Please join us and show your support to enhance the level of education throughout our district. Please fill out the information below and return it, along with your payment, to: Clinton Township Foundation For Educational Excellence, P.O. Box 183, Annandale, NJ 08801. Checks can be made out to CTFEE. Ticket price: $75.00/person. For more information, please contact Jennifer McBride: 908.337.4596. Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________ Phone: ___________________________ Number of Tickets: ___________ Total enclosed ($75.00 x number of tickets): ________________ Let's gather and make a difference! ctfoundation@ctsd.k12.nj.us "Childhood and magic happens everywhere, especially in good classrooms with good instruction." –Dr. Drucilla Clark t h e c l I n t o n t o W n s h I p B o a r d o F e d u c at I o n c o r d I a l l y I n V I t e s y o u t o at t e n d a p r e s e n tat I o n B y : Dr. Richard Grip " A Demographic Study for the Clinton Township Schools" o c t o B e r 2 7 , 7 : 3 0 p m CTMS, 34 Grayrock Rd., Auditorium This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the CTSD Board of Education.

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