Administration

Principal
Jennifer K. Mildner - jennifer.mildner@pequannock.org

Principal's Message

Happy Spring! This year is flying by! I couldn't be happier or prouder to become a part of this amazing school.

At Hillview School, our curriculum includes reading/language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, world cultures, art, music, health, physical education, and technology instruction. Additional support and programs are available to address more specific educational needs.

The reading and language arts curriculum combines, reading, writing, speaking, viewing, and listening in a balanced literacy approach. We strive to develop our students' skills so that they become independent readers and develop a greater interest and love for reading. Using the framework from Teachers College Writer's Workshop, our goal is to develop lifelong writing skills. We also incorporate a lexiled approach which provides the students an opportunity to receive reading instruction at their lexiled level. Using the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), we are able to provide our students with a more differentiated approach.

This year in mathematics, we are introducing our new Math in Focus program in Grades K through 2. With this new program, we are better aligned to the new National Common Core Standards that have recently been established. This program "focuses" on the mastery of concepts in each grade. Grades 3 through 5 will soon follow using this new program. We continue to integrate manipulatives to help students better understand mathematical functions, patterns, and concepts. Students are taught to think critically and to solve problems creatively. Our goal is to develop learners that can compete within the global learning community.

The subject of social studies helps the students acquire the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become responsible members of society. The students learn the importance of ethnic and cultural diversity in Pequannock, New Jersey, and the world. Our curriculum in Science is new in grades K through 5. A hands-on approach is used. Students observe, measure, describe, compare and contrast, collect and classify information, experiment, make predictions, draw conclusions and make inferences through discovery and investigation. The scientific method is stressed at all grade levels.

Technology is an integral part of learning in today's world. Students are instructed in the computer lab, using programs that reinforce their curriculum studies. Under teacher supervision, the students can use the Internet as a valuable research tool. Through grants, the school acquired an iRespond system to reinforce mastery of concepts and iPods, which are used to listen to books in the Library Media Center. Smartboards were recently purchased and are proving to be a valuable resource in the classrooms. They are used for teacher instruction, concept/skill modeling, student demonstration, and are an exceptional source for strategies and methods to reach every student. Technology is consistently infused into the daily curriculum at Hillview School.

Our students also take part in physical education where they learn the importance of good health and nutrition, the value of exercise, and the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. In art, students learn the foundations of art and develop an appreciation for the artwork of others, both in and out of the classroom. Our music program provides our students the opportunity to express themselves in song and instruments and perform for the school and community. Our fifth graders also get to choose an instrument to begin their instrumental instruction that can carry over into the middle school.

Hillview has been a successful school due to its dedication to the education of our students. We are proud to have a highly involved HSA. The Hillview Home and School Association plays an active role in our school, providing numerous activities for our children and assisting our staff with the goals of the school. The HSA provides us with educational and informational programs for both our students and parents. Parents and staff work together on various committees, enriching the quality of education our children receive. We encourage all our parents to get involved and we welcome you as a member of our strong Home and School Association.

The mission of Hillview School is to promote active learning for our students. This is done collaboratively by our outstanding staff and supportive HSA. The teachers create and implement numerous interdisciplinary units and activities that encourage the students to see how all subjects, and the world, are interconnected, thus providing meaning and purpose to their learning. Our Hillview family is looking forward to bringing the excitement of learning to our students and help the students discover the world in which we live.

I wish you a wonderful start to the 2011-2012 school year. This is such an exciting time for teachers, students, and families. I look forward to meeting all of you!

Mrs. Jennifer K. Mildner
Principal
jennifer.mildner@pequannock.org
973-616-6080