Administration

Sue Schwartz, Principal
sue.schwartz@pequannock.org

Mr. Paul DePinto, Assistant Principal
paul.depinto@pequannock.org

Mrs. Ellen Altis, Principal's Secretary
ellen.altis@pequannock.org

Mrs. Carol Kane, Secretary
carol.kane@pequannock.org

Principal's Message

Sue Schwartz
Pequannock Valley School

Hello P.V. School Family,

The summer is over and we are back in school! As you may know, there was quite a bit of construction at P.V. School this summer. I am pleased to inform you that it has been completed and our school is looking great. Since most of the construction was in the ceilings and other areas that are not readily seen, what is most noticeable is how bright the halls appear.

The amazing, painted ceiling tiles that have become P.V. tradition were taken down. Fire codes have prohibited us from reinstalling them. We plan to photograph them and publish a book containing these special pieces of art. We’ll frame some of the pieces and use them to decorate the halls. More information about the ceiling tile book will be coming as soon as we know more.

In addition to the construction, the summer has afforded us time to work on some projects for the 2009 – 2010 school year. Character education is a hallmark of P.V. School. This year we are adding another dimension to it. Specifically, we will be working with all the adults in our school family in the area of bullying and racism. I will be forming a parent task force to help raise awareness of the issues and the process that we are implementing to consistently and cohesively deal with these contemporary challenges. Please consider joining me in this very ambitious project. To be part of the parent task force, please call the main office and give Mrs. Kane your name, phone number, and email address. I am hoping the adults in Pequannock will join me in order to raise awareness in our community.

Character education is sometimes called “social/ emotional learning.” Our teachers will be looking at the book, The Essential 55 by Ron Clark. This book is written by a teacher and it is a collection of educator’s rules for discovering the successful student in every child. While some of Ron Clark’s rules might raise an eyebrow, they certainly create a basis for lively discussion. Mr. Clark also wrote, The Excellent 11. This second book is for teachers and parents. It addresses eleven motivational behaviors that bring out the best in everyone. I’ll be talking more about both of these books in the near future.

Please note that our school day is extended by 10 minutes due to teacher contracts. We added 5 minutes on each side of the day. You will have gotten the new bell schedules in the packets your children brought home. If you have any questions, feel free to call the main office.

I am looking forward to a great school year for your children, their teachers, you, and the rest of us here at P.V. School. Get ready for special times!

Warm regards,
Sue Schwartz

Pequannock Valley School is a community of learners consisting of approximately 600 students in grades six through eight. All grades are organized around a teaming approach providing for coordinated instruction and opportunities for interdisciplinary and thematic units within the teams. Our teachers meet daily as Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) which allows for dialogue and discussion of grade level, school, and district goals for our students.

The schedule at PV School provides extended teaching time in the subject areas of Mathematics and Language Arts in all three grades every day. The subject areas of Science and Social Studies are designed as extended blocks of time on alternating days. With the extended teaching time, teachers are able to prepare interactive lessons that integrate technology, hands-on activities, cooperative tasks, as well as relate to other subject disciplines for a more in-depth approach to learning. Different learning styles are addressed through a variety of instructional strategies that differentiate learning for all students.

At PV School, we have a large number of elective courses for our students. In Grade 6, students are assigned to exploratory classes to provide them with foundation experiences in a variety of special subjects. These include Computers, Music or Band/Orchestra, World Languages and Cultures, Art, Characters and Careers, Skills for Living (Family and Consumer Science), and the Dawn of Technology. In Grades 7 and 8, students are able to take more ownership of the electives in which they are placed. Students choose Spanish, French, or Latin as a language to begin in Grade 7. Students can choose from such Music courses as Band, Orchestra, Piano, World Drumming, Music Technology, and Music Theory. Art includes such classes as Cartooning, Self-Portrait, Painting, and Crafts. Technology courses include Digital Photography, Digital Video, Technology Revolution, How It Works, and Woodshop. Our Family Consumer Science classes include Foods and Nutrition, World Foods, Restaurant Design, and our entrepreneurship class entitled "Kids Incorporated. There are several other electives such as Creative Writing, Creative Dramatics, Writing about the News and Current Events, and Basic Keyboarding. We also offer Math and Language Arts Essentials for remedial needs in all three grades. These are just a few of the electives offered at PV School.

We are proud to be able to offer such a wide range of courses that address the interests and needs of all learners. At PV School, we believe in providing authentic and active learning experiences for our students. We provide students with opportunities to grow as people and to develop socially and emotionally. We look to create a positive school culture, focusing on a strong Character Education program. PV School was awarded the title of "New Jersey School of Character in 2006. For the past two years, PV School has served as a "Coach School through Rutgers University as part of the "Fostering Change in School Culture through Character Education program. Our school has also received three National Promising Practice Awards from the Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C.