Midland Park September 2, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 District begins new year; MPHS adds economics course In anticipation of a potential move toward an economics requirement for New Jersey high school students, Midland Park High School will be offering an Advanced Placement course in economics for the first time this year. Recent records indicate that 18 students have enrolled in this class. The teacher has received the requisite training, and new textbooks have been approved for this course. “The district has also added an in-house special education program for four Midland Park students transitioning from pre-school to kindergarten,” commented Midland Park Superintendent Dr. William B. Heebink. “In doing so, the district is following the state expectation to provide more services within the district. This also reduces travel time for the students who would otherwise attend a program outside the school system. And doing so will also save the district some tax dollars as the expense of out-of-district placements and transportation to those placements would exceed the cost of operating the new program.” In 2009-10, the district will also begin the first year of a fiveyear curriculum review and improvement process. Due to the late Labor Day holiday, students are reporting for class on Sept. 2 and 3. There will be no classes on Sept. 4 so there can be a long Labor Day weekend for families. Back-to-School Nights this year will be: MPHS: Sept. 17; Godwin School, Sept. 23; and Highland School, Oct. 1. Technology Advances Midland Park students and staff will return to a number of improvements in the district’s provisions for technology. For example, the network speed has been greatly enhanced by connecting to Lightpath. This improvement has been made district-wide. The district will also be using a new software program in special services (TIE-NET), in guidance (ConnectEDU), and for facilities. The latter will allow for better tracking of work order requests, Dr. Heebink reported. Donations from the MPHS PTA and the graduating classes of 2008 and 2009 will allow the district to benefit from refurbished benches in front of the high school and new benches and tables in the courtyard area behind the high school. “We have added a new bus to our fleet, bringing the total to three at this point,” the superintendent reported. “This will enable us to cut some transportation costs as we will not need to use costly contracted busing as much in the year ahead.” The district, in conjunction with the Midland Park Continuing Education program, offers an after school care program from 2:50 to 6 p.m. daily. The program is housed at Godwin School and is open to all area students in kindergarten through grade six. Anyone interested in this fee-based service may contact the continuing education office. The drop-off schedule for students attending Godwin School will be 8 to 8:20 a.m. Supervision begins at 8 a.m., so earlier drop offs are discouraged. Cars dropping off children in the morning should following this procedure: Drop off along the yellow curb in the designated area. Parents are not to exit their vehicles in that drop-off zone. Students may exit the car and enter the building safely through the main entrance. School ends at 2:45 for preschoolers and at 2:50 p.m. for grades K to 2. Parents are encouraged to park nearby and meet their children in front of the school or at a prearranged designated location. Due to the large number of students being dismissed and the bus traffic from 2:50 to 3 p.m., pick up by car in front of the building is not allowed until after 3 p.m. Any pupils or parents crossing the street should do so at the designated location with the assistance of the crossing guard. At Highland School adult supervision does not begin until 8 a.m., so students should not arrive earlier whether walking, riding a bike, or being dropped off by car. The ideal time for a drop off is approximately 8:10 a.m. Afternoon pick up begins at 2:50 p.m. For both mornings and afternoons, drivers should observe these directions: If entering Highland Avenue from Vreeland Avenue, turn into the municipal parking lot and pull up as far as possible to drop off or pick up your child at the grass or sidewalk area. If entering Highland Avenue from Godwin Avenue or Prospect Street, please drive into the municipal parking lot to drop off or pick up your child. The crossing guard should be used both before and after school. As the new academic year begins Sept. 2 in Midland Park, staff and students will be greeted by several new faces. “The most prominent additions are in the administrative ranks where we added a new elementary school principal, Danielle Bache, and a new director of special services, Sheralyn Gottlieb,” said Midland Park Superintendent Dr. William B. Heebink. Bache was an assistant elementary principal in Cranford before coming to Midland Park, and Gottlieb was a District welcomes new staff members director of special services in Rockaway Township. Bache began work on July 1, and Gottlieb started on Aug. 3. “In terms of teachers, we are doing more hiring than generally occurs due to retirements, a program addition, and unexpected resignations over the summer,” Dr. Heebink reported. “So far, we have hired two new math teachers for Midland Park High School: Esther Bengel and Anne Marchetta, who was recently married. (Her (continued on page 23) 555 Russell Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481 (just west of Rt. 208) • 201-891-4595 • www.gumc.org Grace United Methodist Church The people of Grace invite you and your family to join with us in worship and fellowship as we begin the fall season SUNDAY WORSHIP: 9 AM & 11 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES: 9 AM & 11 AM: Infants to Grade 5 10 AM Grades 6 – 12 and Adults As of Sunday, 9/13/09 “Let the little children come unto me...” 3 Youth Choirs – Ages 4 through Grade 12 4 Fellowship Groups ranging from Age 4 through senior high CHOIRS & FELLOWSHIP GROUPS FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH Grace Weekday Nursery School has classes for children ages 3 to 5 Pat from Janine GraceChurch3x3(9-2-09) 3 col x 3”