On Wednesday, September 20th, Carl H. Kumpf Middle School in Clark, NJ, was redesignated as a School to Watch during a banner ceremony held at the school. The event, a celebration of achievement for the entire school community, was attended by students, parents, faculty, administration, and board members. Ms. Gail Hilliard-Nelson, Schools to Watch State Director, presented the school with a banner representing the school’s redesignation.
Assistant Principal Amanda Davidson stated, “We are so excited to receive our Schools to Watch Redesignation Banner. I’d like to thank the teachers, students, and parents who worked tirelessly on the application process and site visitation. It was wonderful to see the entire building come together for this.”
Kumpf Middle School was first designated a School to Watch in 2014. Schools to Watch is an initiative launched by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Through the Schools to Watch initiative, the National Forum identifies schools across the United States that are well on their way to meeting the Forum’s criteria for high performance. According to the Forum, high-performing middle-grade schools are:
Academically Excellent – These schools challenge all students to use their minds well. Developmentally Responsive – These schools are sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence.
Socially Equitable – These schools are democratic and fair, providing every student with high-quality teachers, resources, and supports.
The Forum believes: To achieve this level of performance, high-performing schools establish norms, structures, and organizational arrangements to support and sustain their trajectory toward excellence.They have a sense of purpose that drives every facet of practice and decision-making.
Principal Rick Delmonaco stated, “It is an honor to be recognized as a School to Watch. It is a testament to the dedication of the teaching staff and all they do to make Kumpf School a great place for students to learn.”
(above) Principal Rick Delmonaco, Katelyn Van Clief, Juliana Rama, and Assistant Principal Amanda Davidson
