At its most recent meeting, the Cinnaminson Board of Education introduced parents to the world language department and focused on the child study team and a Robotics Club accomplishment.
During the world language presentation, Suzanne Kerr, supervisor of world language K-12, spoke on how the department has changed throughout the year and also gave updates on how the students were doing. The first point Kerr offered is how the department has switched from a performance-based grading scale to a proficiency-based grading scale.
Cinnaminson has also become one of the first schools in the state to offer a Seal of Biliteracy. This seal is obtained by reaching an intermediate to mid-level proficiency in the student’s second language, as well as reaching the graduation requirement in English. This year alone, Cinnaminson has had 86 juniors and seniors receive their Seal of Biliteracy.
Also, during the child study presentation, the child study team stressed the importance of communication between parents and the school. Members of the child study team want parents to know they are part of the team and that parents have to give consent at every step of the child’s school tenure.
“We tried to have some public-facing presentations to provide an educational piece for the community to learn more about what’s actually happening in the schools,” said Superintendent Stephen Cappello. “Some of the highlights of the presentations that have been significant for us are the work in training our staff in sheltered instruction to accommodate an increasing level of English language learners.
“That coupled with the work on our world language side,” Cappello continued. “With our Seal of Biliteracy, we’re making a big push for a state distinction for our students to be able to show proficiency in two languages. Our students who have done well in the past are performing at an even greater level now.”
Outside of the two presentations, the board welcomed two new principals to the school district. Mrs. Valerie Jones, the current assistant principal at Cinnaminson Middle School, will become the new principal of the New Albany Elementary School. Also, Mrs. Kerry DiSimone, the current assistant principal at New Albany Elementary School, will become the new principal at the Eleanor Rush Intermediate School.
According to Cappello, these two personnel decisions were very important and for half of the district between K-5, these new hires will not only help shape the New Albany Elementary School and the Eleanor Rush Intermediate School, but the entire district.
Lastly, the board sent a special congratulations to the Cinnaminson High School Robotics Club. The team won rookie of the year during a competition for its work on smaller robotics. The team won Bluetooth Headphones as well as a $1,000 scholarship for the school.
In other news:
- There will be a Fox29 takeover on April 29 that will start at 6:30 a.m. to celebrate the town of Cinnaminson.
- On May 1, the Cinnaminson Middle School will hold a career fair for their students at the middle school. The exact time will be announced closer to the day.
- School will be closed for spring break between April 19-28
- Kimberly Klein was chosen as teacher of the year for teaching French 1A & 1B
- NJSLA testing took place recently at Cinnaminson High School. Students at Eleanor Rush Intermediate School will test May 1-3 and 6-7. Cinnaminson Middle School will complete testing May 20-22.
