Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional Public Schools Back to School

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools welcomed back approximately 5,500 students to a full day of school on Tuesday, September 6th. We were particularly excited that our first class of full-day kindergarten students will be joining us. Finishing touches are being made to the additions at Evergreen and McGinn Schools. These additions were financed through our operating budget, which is within the state mandated cap requirements, and our communities will not bear additional costs associated with referendums.
Over 345 kindergarteners will be welcomed into 18 classes across the district. The program is staffed by a combination of returning kindergarten teachers, teachers who asked to transfer to kindergarten, and teachers who are new to our district. They have collaborated throughout the summer to plan for this exciting program focused on student centered learning and guided by the New Jersey Department of Education’s Kindergarten Implementation Guidelines.
Our Preschool Program continues to provide services for early childhood learning in a cost effective manner. Tuition is being maintained at the rate of $3,100 and tuition does not apply to classified and at-risk students. Enrollment is continuous and new students are welcome!
We are celebrating staff who are taking on new roles in our district. Lisa Rebimbas, formerly Park Middle School principal, is now our new Director of Special Services. Dr. Jocelyn Dumaresq, formerly our District English Language Arts Supervisor, is Park Middle School’s new principal, and Elizabeth McKenna, formerly English teacher at Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School is our new District English Language Arts Supervisor.
During the summer months, many of our teachers participated in professional development to enhance the upcoming school year organized by Dr. Joan Mast, Assistant Superintendent, and our district supervisors. The SPF Summer PD Academy was well subscribed this year, and teachers from all grade levels engaged in a variety of workshops ranging from Art History for Global Perspectives to Formative Assessment and Co-Teaching Strategies.
This summer the focus was on integrating elementary language arts and social studies, Media Center experiences for kindergarten and first grade, connecting math and literature in primary grades, expanding the middle school Connected Math Program to sixth grade, revising the Full Option Science Program (FOSS) units in kindergarten through grade five, and aligning middle school science with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School will be offering a new Advanced Placement course in Environmental Science. Students will make good use of our new greenhouse, donated by Thomas Hargreaves, as they design experiments in plant science. Updated learning resources support our programs and eleventh and twelfth grade students in You and the Law as well as Advanced Placement European History will be using new texts and online resources.
Our new teachers participated in an intensive three-day orientation program and on September 1 and 2, professional development and staff meetings prepared everyone for the new school year. Again this year, a highlight of our opening of school program was our “Teachers Teaching Teachers” workshop that focused on deepening understanding of student engagement.
Under the guidance of Deborah Saridaki, School Business Administrator, and Anthony Miranda, Buildings and Grounds Director, our skilled buildings and grounds crews and custodians accomplished many summer projects including classroom re-configurations needed for new programs. In addition, roof improvements have been made at Park Middle School and Coles, McGinn and School One. New HVAC units have been installed for Park’s second floor and Brunner’s second floor. McGinn has a new boiler. Coles and Evergreen have new windows and paving projects were completed at Coles, Evergreen and McGinn.
Back-to-School evening presentations are planned for Elementary Schools on September 22, Middle Schools on September 15, and SPFHS on September 29. For a complete calendar of school events for the 2016-2017 school year, as well as a calendar of athletic competitions, please visit our website at www.spfk12.org.