Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 4, 2013 Waldwick Components for full-day kindergarten in place All of the components for the launch of the Waldwick’s full-day kindergarten pro- gram are now in place, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia M. Raupers reported recently. Raupers said Crescent School Princi- pal Dr. Diane Mardy, Traphagen School Principal Robert Sileo, the kindergarten teachers, and she are all proud to see that their aspirations for a comprehensive kin- dergarten program will come to fruition this September. “We thank the members of the board of education and Mr. (School Business Administrator John) Griffin for the sup- port that they have provided to make this long-standing dream a reality,” Raupers said. “We have all worked collaboratively to bring this much-needed additional instructional time to the children of our district, and I have been very pleased to be a part of that cooperative effort. It is a clear demonstration of the power that trustees, administrators, and teachers can exert when they combine their efforts for the good of students.” According to Raupers, the renovated classrooms and the newly added classroom are all ready for incoming students. She noted that Mardy, Sileo, and the kinder- garten teachers have been in this summer making sure all of the necessary materials and furniture are in place. “I have visited all of the classrooms and they are welcoming, colorful, and engag- ing,” the superintendent added. “Much planning has taken place to develop the additional curriculum and related instruc- tional practices and the two building teams are working closely to ensure alignment. We will continue to assess the implemen- tation of the plans and make adjustments as needed.” Last year, school officials broke ground at Traphagen School for construction of one new classroom at an existing pod. The school’s California-style campus consists of multiple buildings. The project is part of a larger upgrade at Traphagen and Crescent schools with the goal of implementing all-day kinder- garten in the fall of 2013. District officials said an all-day kinder- garten program will allow the district to meet all of the required core curriculum and content standards, while also allowing the children to reap the social benefits of kindergarten. Three kindergarten classes will be housed in each building. Additional space was also opened up at Crescent School, where a storage area and a classroom that was not up to code for kindergarteners was converted for all-day kindergarten. One of the modifications required at Crescent School involved the (continued on page 23) Ryan Kowal completes cadet basic training at West Point Cadet Ryan Anthony Kowal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kowal of Waldwick, has completed cadet basic training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Kowal entered West Point on July 1 and has successfully completed six weeks of CBT. CBT is one of the most challenging events cadets encounter over the course of their four years at the academy. The initial military training program provides cadets with basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence, and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the corps of cadets. Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, and rifle marksmanship. Instruction also included nuclear, biological, and chemical training. The West Point curriculum offers 37 majors balancing physical sciences and engineering with humanities and social sciences leading to a bachelor of science degree. Kowal, who began classes on Aug. 19, is a graduate of Waldwick High School. He plans to graduate from West Point in 2017 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The mission of the U.S. Military Acad- emy is to educate, train, and inspire the corps of cadets so each graduate is a com- missioned leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor, and country and is prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army.