Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 26, 2012 Waldwick The first-ever Waldwick School District Research Manual has been officially adopted by the board of education. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia Raupers explained that the manual was created as part of the district’s effort to increase the amount of research being conducted by Waldwick students. Parts of the draft document had been used last year, she said, but the final version has School board approves district research manual now received the trustees’ official stamp of approval. “We’ve been wanting this for years. I’m thrilled,” said board of education President Patty Levine. “It’s a great contribution to our district curriculum and will serve as a springboard for things to come,” Dr. Raupers said. Among these, suggested Levine, could be a study skills manual. “Having worked with high school students for many years, I had learned that as those students went on to college there were several essential skills that helped to ensure their success,” Dr. Raupers said. “Among those skills was the ability to conduct high-quality research and prepare well-developed research papers, since in many college courses, the final grade is determined by the grades earned on a midterm exam, a final exam, and a major paper.” During the spring of 2011, Dr. Raupers met with the members of the middle school and high school English and social studies departments to discuss the amount of research being done by students. “As a result of those meetings, we have increased the amount of research conducted by our students at grade levels six through 12, and we also implemented a major interdisciplinary research project,” Raupers continued. “This interdepartmental effort involves teachers and students in American Literature and U.S. History I classes, since they both study the historical and cultural components of 19th and 19th century America. “In the course of our discussions, it became apparent that our district did not have a common research manual – one used by all departments.” Raupers said a team of teachers, including Carla DeGronimo, Sarah Dojer, Erin Hummel, Heather McKeon, Justin Parsils, and Susan Wolf, with support from Janet Sobkowicz, worked to develop the newly-approved manual. The superintendent and several other district educators reviewed the first draft, and the committee then used the readers’ feedback to prepare the final version that was approved this month. The goal, Raupers noted, is to have the district’s younger students build up to the high school-level of research, and work will begin soon on a middle school version of the manual. Concord Engineering is currently conducting an energy audit for all four of Waldwick’s public school buildings, and district officials anticipate a report in the coming weeks. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia Raupers explained that the audit, which is now in progress, was arranged by the district’s architectural firm. The board then went out Energy audit now under way for schools Valley Hospital Auxiliary plans meeting to bid for a consulting firm to carry out the audit, Raupers said. She indicated that Concord Engineering is evaluating ways the district might save energy dollars, and is considering whether Waldwick would benefit from the use of energy-efficient materials and equipment. The Waldwick Branch of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The 1 p.m. meeting will be held at the Waldwick Methodist Church on Franklin Turnpike. Refreshments will be served and new members are welcome. For more information, call Maryann at (201) 444-5149.