January 2019
District named to College Board’s 9th Annual Student Services Dept impacts every AP© Honor Roll for significant gains in stustudent dent access and success 1 of 373 school districts across U.S. and Canada
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awrence Township Public Schools (LTPS) is one of 373 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored
by the College Board with placement on the 9th Annual AP® District Honor Roll. To be included on the 9th Annual Honor Roll, Lawrence Township Public Schools had to, since 2016, increase the number of students participating in Advance Placement (AP) courses while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that this district is successfully
identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP. LTPS previously earned this distinction in 2013 and 2014 for the 4th and 5th Annual AP© Honor Rolls. “Being recognized on the College Board’s 9th Annual AP© District Honor Roll is a testament to the diligent work of our students, staff and district,” related Superintendent Ross Kasun. “I am proud of our work and committed to expanding the availability of AP courses for all of our students.” National data from 2018 show that among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/ African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. Courses must
be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be equitably opened. Lawrence Township Public Schools is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds. “Success in Advanced Placement is a combination of students’ own motivation and the opportunities educators provide for them,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board. “I’m inspired by the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked to clear a path for more students of all backgrounds to earn college credit during high school.” Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community,
Scope of programs touches each grade level
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he mission of the Student Services Department is to provide a framework of integrated services for students to support their needs in the following areas: special education (SE) and related services, 504 plan eligible students, Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS), services for students with health and medical needs, socialemotional learning, mental health support and guidance, and career and college planning. Providing support in all these areas is achieved through the collaboration and dedication of our staff, administrators, students, parents and members of the Board of Education.
Meet the Student Services Staff
Michele Deremer — Supervisor of Special Education Grade 7-Graduation Michele is in her second year as Supervisor of Special Education Grade 7-Graduation, after previously holding the position of Elementary Special Education Supervisor in Lawrence for 3 years. She collaborates with building administrators to provide (continued page 3)
(continued page 4)
New Class III Officer joins Intermediate School in 2019 Shortly after the winter break when Lawrence Intermediate School (LIS) staff welcome students back to school, LIS also will welcome a new addition on January 2…Class III Officer Mike Cseremsak. Mike will replace Matt Nemes who resigned his position as of November 21, 2018 in pursuit of another opportunity.
Mike retired with the rank of Sergeant from the Hopewell Police Department in July 2017 after 30 years of service. He spent many years in the traffic unit as a patrol officer and later as the Traffic Sergeant. His specialty was training. He designed
a summer Youth Police Academy in 2007 that continues to this day. Additionally, he participated in the Adopt-a-Cop program and was assigned to a second grade class of Hopewell Elementary. He has had advanced training at the FBI National Academy. After retiring, (continued page 2)
L-R: Lawrence Police Chief Brian Caloiaro & new LIS Class III Officer Mike Cseremsak plan with district and LIS administrators
Board of Education Kevin Van Hise, Esq., Pres. Pepper Evans, Vice Pres. Michele Bowes Jonathan Dauber, Ed.D. Dana Drake Jo Ann Groeger Michelle King, Ph.D. Cathy LeCompte Joyce Scott
Referendum Update School abbreviations in the below update are Slackwood (SWS), Eldridge Park (EP), Intermediate School (LIS), Middle School (LMS), High School (LHS), Lawrenceville (LES), Ben Franklin (BF).
Check us out on the Web! www.ltps.org Follow us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! https://twitter.com/LTPS1/ lists/ltps Online Backpack
As part of the district’s “greening” initiatives, we continue to successfully promote the use of the Online Backpack on the district website. Information from non-profit entities is entered as it is received. Check the site often.
Ross Kasun, Ed.D. Superintendent
Andrew Zuckerman, Ed.D. Director of Instructional Services
Thomas Eldridge Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Sean M. Fry
Director of Personnel & Administrative Services
Linda Mithaug
Director of Student Services
Lana Mueller Editor
lmueller@ltps.org 609-671-5405 2565 Princeton Pike Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648 Phone: 609-671-5500
LES, BF) have been awarded and work will be completed this summer.
EP: Electrical upgrades this summer to accommodate new units. AC units installed summer 2020.
The Modular Building Siding projects bids (SWS, EP, LES, BF) have been rejected. We will rebid them next month and award them this winter. Work will be completed this summer.
LIS: Electrical upgrades this summer to accommodate new units. AC units installed summer 2020.
At the time of this publication, the HVAC Projects (air conditioning) were due to be awarded in December 2018. Please note projected completion dates below.
District Mission The mission of the Lawrence Township Public Schools is to foster a community that: • values academic excellence, critical thinking skills, and lifelong learning; • challenges each student to become a responsible citizen of a global society; and • respects different learning styles and adapts instruction accordingly.
#BetterBuildings4Learning
The Security Vestibule projects (SWS, EP, LIS, LMS) have been awarded and work will be complete by this summer, if not sooner. The Modular Building Window projects (SWS, EP, LES, BF) have been awarded and work will be complete by this summer. Installation is expected to occur during this winter/spring. The Modular Building Ramp/Stairs projects (SWS, EP,
BF: 100% complete this summer. No electrical upgrades necessary (completed with additions in 2005) LES: 100% complete this summer. No electrical upgrades necessary (completed with additions in 2005) SWS: Electrical upgrades this summer to accommodate new units. AC units installed summer 2020.
(continued from page 1) AP© Honor Roll . . . from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with initiatives and strategies to see how they can expand access and improve student performance at the same time.
LMS: Electrical upgrades this summer to accommodate new units. New boiler piping run throughout building this summer. AC units installed summer 2020. New Boiler (switch from steam to hot water) Summer 2020.
LHS: 100% complete this summer. No electrical upgrades necessary (completed with additions in 2005). New Boiler installed this summer. The Telephone Systems/ Security Projects: District-wide, currently under development (deciding on systems) The Elevator Project: LMS only. Design development (Completion: summer 2020)
ing a 3 or higher to the 2016 percentage, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70% of its AP students earn a 3 or higher. The complete 9th Annual AP© District Honor Roll can be found here: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/score-reports-data/awards/honor-roll
In 2018, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admissions process. Inclusion in the 9th Annual AP© District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2016 to 2018, looking across 38 AP Exams, including world language and culture. The following criteria were used. Districts must: • Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4% in large districts, at least 6% in medium districts, and at least 11% in small districts; • Increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students taking exams and increase or maintain the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students scoring 3+ on at least one AP Exam; and • Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2018 percentage of students scor-
“Houston, the good news is we have discovered life on another planet! The bad news is....” Source: The Humor Project, Inc., Dec 2018
(continued from page 1) Student Services . . . oversight for SE teachers, child study team (CST) members, and SE programs at the secondary level. Jennifer Debiec — Supervisor of Elementary Special Education Jennifer began in Lawrence in August of 2017. She collaborates with building administrators to provide supervision and oversight for SE teachers, CST members, and the development of elementary SE programs.
lottery and extended school year (ESY) programs. She fields parent phone calls, coordinates the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI), and secures nursing services for all school field trips. Monique Corbin — Student Services Secretary Monique has served in the department for three years. She supports the secondary CST (Grade 7Graduation), processes CST paperwork, supports department administrators, assists in coordinating the home instruction program, and is the support for the district’s non-public schools.
Supplying a multitude of services across the district requires a sizeable staff. Categories of staff within the Student Services Office follow and the number in each category is in parentheses: director (1), assistant behaviorist (1), behaviorist-BCBA (1), physical therapist (1), student assistance counselor (1), guidance supervisor (1), transition coordinator (1), special ed supervisors (2), occupational therapists (4), learning disabilities teacher consultants (5), social workers (7), school nurses L-R: Monique Corbin; Jennifer Tindall; Linda Mithaug, stu(9), speech therapists (9.5), dent services director; Sue Scozzari; Michele Deremer. Not psychologists (10), school present: Jennifer Debiec counselors (13)
Melanie Fillmyer — Supervisor of Guidance Melanie has served in Lawrence for two years. Her district responsibilities include being the test coordinator, anti-bullying coordinator, and 504 coordinator as well as supervising grades K-12 school counselors. Lucille Winslow — Nurse Coordinator
Lucille has been a school nurse in Lawrence for 13 years. As the nurse coordinator, she works as a liaison between the school nurses and the Director of Student Services. In addition to being the Lawrence High School nurse, Lucille coordinates the development of the annual nursing services plan, state immunization reporting, monthly nurses meetings and professional development for nursing staff. Jennifer Tindall — Secretary to Director of Student Services Jennifer has been with Lawrence since February 2018. She supports the department’s director and supervisors and works closely with the CSTs, composed of a learning disabilities teacher consultant, a psychologist, and a social worker. Jennifer also compiles state reports, manages department information on the website, handles special education referrals, monitors tuition contracts, and prepares the department’s portion of the Board of Ed meeting agenda. Susan Scozzari — Student Services Secretary Sue has worked in the department for 11 years. She supports the elementary CST (PreK-Grade 6) as well as department administrators, processes CST paperwork, and helps coordinate the preschool
L-R: Melanie Fillmyer, Lucille Winslow program: the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC). This is a state-mandated, district-level, parent-driven group charged with providing input to the school district about SE programs and services. Currently three parent liaisons facilitate SEPAC: Dr. Adena Ratliff-Romeo, Tam Ngo, and Arundel Clarke. They meet with the department’s director to plan and coordinate parent presentations on topics such as dyslexia, autism, executive functioning strategies and assistive technology tools. — Linda Mithaug Student Services Director
Additional numbers of Students Services staff who serve our students are reflected in the graphic on this page. Special education programs include the following: • Integrated Preschool • Self-Contained Preschool • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs for preschool and early elementary grades • Self-Contained Classes • Resource Room (OCR) • In-Class Support Classes (ICS) • General Ed Classes with supplementary aides and supports • Supplementary Reading (Fundations, Wilson Reading, Lindamood-Bell V&V, LLI, Read 180/System 44) • Supplementary Math (Touch Math, Do the Math) • High School—CORR Program (Citizenship, Ownership, Respect & Responsibility) • High School—Cardinal QUEST (Quality Essentials for Transition) • Community Based Instruction— Career Development Center, structured learning experiences In addition to staff and programs within the Student Services Department, there’s a parent component to the
Numbers of staff and students in programs as of October 2018 Numbers of referrals and evaluations from 2017-2018 school year
Operation Smile missions reward as much as they take Operation Smile is an international organization of doctors and volunteers who provide free cleft lip and cleft palate operations to children, and sometimes adults, in many parts of the world. These operations change the life of the patient and their family forever and are often inaccessible in developing countries. International medical teams travel to these areas, set up “missions” in local hospitals, and perform a high volume of surgeries over a short period of time (frequently ten to fourteen days).
husband passed away 11 years prior, and ever since, she had worked as a farmer to support herself and her aging mother. I learned that she was often bullied as a child and avoided by everyone as a result of her cleft. Until this day, children in the streets
ed my view on compassion and sympathy toward others. My passion for global health and education was ignited; it was my responsibility to spread awareness for these kids. I took what I learned and put them into PowerPoint presentations. I talked about what I learned in classrooms within my school and community, hoping to inspire other students to take matters into their own hands.
This year I help run the club at my school; I also joined the National Leadership Council within Operation Smile’s Student Programs. Lawrence High School (LHS) has a I am in charge of the states of Iowa, Illinois, robust Operation Smile chapter. LHS art Maryland, Maine, Vermont, and Wisconsin. I am teacher, Cheryl Eng, advises the group. responsible for supporting and overseeing the growth of all the clubs in those states. I always Generally the international organization encourage these clubs that opportunities are endannually selects at least one LHS student for less regarding spreading awareness and raising the honor of going on a mission. LHS senior money. However, it is most important, that these Vivian Jiang relates her experience: clubs make sure that people can put a face and a story behind each dollar they raise. Sure, raising Hi my name is Vivian and last year I got money IS effective, and YES it does change the incredible opportunity to fly to Vijayawalives forever, but what I want is to get more da, India on a medical mission with OperaVivian Jiang is in the back with arms outstretched. people involved and aware of the fundamental tion Smile. I did not know how much my life work Operation Smile does for children all around would change and I am incredibly grateful. the world. I hope people are open-minded and are would point and laugh at her. After 42 long years, willing to learn about the issue of the lack of safe Operation Smile gave her the surgery she needed In Vijayawada, I met a woman named Vijaya. surgical care in the world. and deserved. I was inspired. So many others have Vijaya was 42 years old and had never tried to seek stories similar to Vijaya’s. surgery or treatment for her cleft lip and cleft palI love sharing what I’ve learned and hope to conate. Vijaya was not aware that a procedure existed tinue fulfilling my passion of helping others at college. My mission gave me a new perspective and for her cleft. She lived her life believing that her gratitude for the life given to me, as well as expand— Vivian Jiang only option was to accept her condition. Vijaya’s
#KindnessMatters
(continued from page 1) Class III officer . . . Mike became a Public Safety Officer at the Institute for Advance Study in Princeton. Mike was elected to the Hopewell Fire District #1 Board of Fire Commissioners in 2007 and continues to serve on this body. Mike grew up in Trenton and graduated from McCorristin High School. He has an AA from Mercer County Community College in Criminal Justice, a BA from Thomas Edison State College in Liberal Studies, and a MA from Seton Hall in Human Resources Training and Development.
A 1st grader came to class visibly sad the day after Halloween. The next day, one of his peers brought this sweet note and a bag of candy and placed it on his classmate’s desk. (viewed on Twitter)
Correction:
In the article that appeared in the November 2018 edition of The Link about the district’s transportation department, the photo caption and article referred to the department’s Transportation Coordinator as Alberto Gonzalez. However, the Coordinator is Alberto Rodriguez. We regret the error.
Class III officers are a new category of security within New Jersey this year. They are armed, retired law enforcement officers who previously served as fully trained, full-time officers in New Jersey. They are hired with the major focus of being a visible presence in the school and helping to keep students and staff safe from an outside intruder. Lawrence Town Council and the Lawrence Board of Education joined forces to find funding within their respective budgets for the LIS position as well as for a Class III officer at Lawrence Middle School and a Student Resource Officer at Lawrence High School.