February/March 2012
www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
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inside Features:
Student Book Reviews. ........................... 3 How to Deal with Bullying. ...................... 4 Homeschooling 101................................ 5 School Lunch Nutrition............................ 7 Valentines Day Gift Guide...................... 10 School Resource Guide...................... 11-16
Departments: Calendar
8-9 Marketplace ................................. 9 Sports-Sign Ups ......................... 8 February and March Happenings.............
on the cover : Payton & Rhett Walther of Hammonton, Photo by Larry Berman
P.O. Box 60, Pleasantville, NJ 08232 Publisher, Pam Joseph pamela.jsf@gmail.com
609-829-8796 Copy Editor, Deborah Stefanides Writers: Michelle Errichetti, Mary Beth Fine, Deanne Walther, DTR, Mary-Jo Christini To place an event listing e-mail information to pamela.jsf@gmail.com
design by Ugly Baby Marketing, LLC www.UglyBabyNJ.com 1-888-444-0015 x 100
publisher’s note Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband of thirteen years in June! Also, Happy Valentine’s Day to two very special little boys in my life- Austin & Alex! You make it all worth it! A special treat to make for . . . or with your sweethearts this Valentine’s Day is a nontraditional heart pizza in place of the typical sweet treats, like candy or cakes. Enjoy. Just in case you did want a sweeter idea, I included a picture below of our Valentines treat from last year. Melt white chocolate (or dark) and small candy canes from Christmas in a heart shape, and fill the candy cane shaped hearts in with the melted chocolate. To top it off, add red sprinkles and pop into the refrigerator. This edition of our magazine, the Valentine’s Day edition, is a celebration of love. As parents, love for our children translates into wanting them to be successful in life. A big part of that success comes from the quality of their education, so I thought this edition would be a perfect time to focus on various education-related topics. You will find several great articles relating to education and the “2012 School Resource Guide.” My goal is to provide you with the tools to make the best decisions about your child’s education whether it’s public education, private education, or even home schooling. It’s important to know your choices. Homeschooling and Charter Schools are becoming more popular and here you will find information to help you navigate these two nontraditional educational options. Another interesting opportunity for students is Foreign Exchange programs. Did you know we have local groups that help in this process? In addition, the issue of “bullying” in schools has been a prominent concern in the news recently. Please find strength and resources in the article provided by Mary Beth Fine from the Atlantic County Library. Nutrition in schools has also been a recent topic of national focus. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for new healthy food ideas for my kids. It can get boring eating the same things all the time. In addition, the book reviews continue from our favorite middle school students, which brings me to the contest you all have been waiting for... Jersey Shore’s Best Teacher! Submit an essay, 300 words or less, explaining why your teacher is the BEST! Students from Atlantic County schools K-12 are welcome to participate. Parents are encouraged to help. Please include at the top the following information: student’s name and grade, school name, and teacher’s name in that order. DEADLINE is March 10th, 2012. Send emails only to Pamela.jsf@gmail.com . The winning essay will be in the Apr/May Issue of JSF, and the winning teacher will receive a basket filled with several treats including gift certificates to local businesses.
Spring will soon be in full swing, so enjoy the Happenings for February & March. Remember that not all events make it to print, so don’t forget to check out our “calendar of events” tab on www. jerseyshorefamily.com and “like” us on Facebook. You can also follow us on Twitter for day-to-day updates and free prizes.
Jersey Shore Family is a free publication with a print circulation of approximately 15,000 copies which are distributed through Atlantic County. Printed in the U.S. The publisher and advertisers will not be liable or responsible for typographical errors, omissions, misinformation, etc. contained in this publication. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for products which are in violation of the law. Comments can be received at pamela.jsf@gmail.com. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All contents copyright 2012 Jersey Shore Family.
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Pam Joseph www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
February/March 2012
student book reviews
We’re on the look out for the
“Al Capone Shines My Shoes” by Gennifer Choldenko Reviewed by Patrick Elkner
Living on Alcatraz is not all that it is choked up to be, take it from Matthew (Moose) Flanagan, a twelve year old boy who lives on Alcatraz in the time period of 1935 because of his father’s job as an electrician and a guard. After asking Al Capone to help his sister Natalie (who has autism) get into a special school for her, he wants something for his work. Will Moose repay him? Will Moose ignore it, possibly jeopardizing his family’s safety? The only way to find out is to read Al Capone Shines my Shoes. Al Capone Shines My Shoes has received many awards varying from Chicago Public Library Best of the Best to Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year. Gennifer Choldenko has written ten books, one of which (Al Capone does my Shirts) won a silver medal. Gennifer has three siblings, two sisters and one brother. Her youngest sister, Gina, has autism. Gennifer’s father died in a car crash, and never got to see her published work.
“I’d Tell You I Love You, But have to Kill You”
Then I’d
Do you know an amazing teacher? Why not nominate them for Jersey Shore Best Teacher 2012
Submit an essay, 300 words or less, explaining why your teacher is the BEST! Students from Atlantic County schools K-12 are welcome to participate. Parents are encouraged to help. Please include the following information: student’s name and grade, school name, and teacher’s name in that order. Send emails to Pamela.jsf@gmail.com with “My Teacher is the Best” in the subject line before midnight on March 10th, 2012.. The winning essay will be in the Apr/May Issue of JSF, and the winning teacher will not only receive recognition in Jersey Shore Family Magazine but an A+ basket of goodies to share.
Pick up the next edition of Jersey Shore Family to find out who won!
by Ally Carter Reviewed by Vanessa Rodriquez Teenage spy, Cammie Morgan attends the Gallagher Academy. Normal people might think it is just a school for smart girls; but it is truly a school for young spies. Cammie might know many things however, when it comes to boys, she needs her best friends to help her. On a mission, Cammie ran into Josh, who wanted to get to know Cammie by asking her questions. This was bad for Cammie because she could not tell him the real story. That meant everything except her name had to be a lie. The worst part was that Josh wanted to see her again. In order for that to happen, Cammie had to sneak out of school. Can Cammie continue a relationship with Josh without him knowing the truth about her or being caught? I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, was published in 2006. The fabulous author, Ally Carter, is known for the series, The Gallagher Girls. This is a page-turner for all. I would recommend it to any tween!
Special Thanks to Mr. Weber’s 7th grade class at William Davies Middle School If your would like to encourage your students to read & tell about it then contact JSF to find out how pamela.jsf@gmail.com Book reviews have not been edited by JSF in the interest of keeping the students’ words authentic.
February/March 2012
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How to Deal with Bullying Most of us have been involved in bullying at one time or another – either as victim, instigator, or silent observer. Bullying is getting more attention these days because of several tragic high profile suicides. Bullying is a common experience for many children. Three-fourths of all students say they have been threatened or teased during their school career. Bullies might be physical by hitting, kicking, pushing or verbal by calling names, threatening, teasing or scaring. Today, bullying can be a face to face confrontation, or it can be done electronically through social media, blogs, or cell phones. In years past, the advice was to treat these situations as a rite of passage- “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” We were told that we would be stronger through our adversity. But times have changed. “Kids have always been jerks to each other since the beginning of time and technology does embolden them” says Sameer Hinduja from the Cyberbullying Research Center at Florida Atlantic University. New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights took effect on September first 2011 and is considered the nation’s toughest legislation against bullying. Under the law, schools must have an anti-bullying coordinator, and every school incident will be investigated for bullying. According to a report from the New Jersey Department of Education, a third of bullying incidents were committed in grades seven and eight. Twenty five percent were by students in grades nine and ten. About four percent were bias related targeting a student because of their race, religion or sexual orientation. Officials say better awareness of bullying may have led to more incidents currently being recorded. While no one can deny the emotional and physical scars school yard bullies leave behind, cyber bullying can be especially damaging. Cyber bullies often remain anonymous, and their attacks can be persistent and pervasive.
Mary Beth Fine is the Section Manager of Outreach Services for the Atlantic County Library System. She is a graduate of Muskingum University, and Rowan University.
helpful websites www.stopbullying.gov www.urbanext.illinois.edu/conflict www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org References:
D’Amico, D. (2011, December 17). Reports of Bullying, Fights Up in N.J. Schools. The Press of Atlantic City , pp. A1,A7. Whelan, D. L. (October 2011). The Bully in the Backpack. School Library Journal , 29-36.
When you hear of a kid in crisis, the first thing to do is to make sure the child receives the help they need. There are many online resources that provide guidance. The Atlantic County Library System’s Coping Collection is a collection of books and DVDS which deals with children’s issues, such as bullying. Check the library catalog at www.atlanticlibrary.org for additional titles. • Jungle Bullies by Steven Kroll. Elephant is bigger than Hippo so he takes Hippo’s spot in the pond. This causes a chain reaction where Hippo and the other animals pick on those who are smaller. • Dear Bully- 70 Authors Tell Their Stories, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones. Today’s top authors for teenagers come together to share their stories about bullying- as the silent observers, the victims and the perpetrators. This is a moving, selfeffacing and personal look at bullying. • We Want You to Know by Deborah Ellis. What do kids think about bullying? What circumstances encourage some kids to bully others? This book is about students from age 9 to 19 and their experiences told from their point of view. • Cyberbullying: Activities to help Children and Teens Stay Safe in Texting, Twittering and Social Networking World by Vanessa Rogers, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. • Bully Bystanders: You Can Make a Difference (DVD) — When Jason sees a classmate harassed, exclude and cyber bullied he doesn’t help him out. When he hears the victim tried to commit suicide he reflects on how he could have stepped in and prevented the situation. Local agencies in which student/adult mediators help students to resolve disputes include: • Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services Juvenile/Family Crisis Center (609) 645-5862 • Community Mediation Services (609) 343-2238
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February/March 2012
Homeschooling 101 Home schooling is something you may have heard about in the news. Maybe someone you know knows someone who is home schooling their children, and you have become interested in how it works and what it’s all about. According to the government census bureau, 2.9% of schoolaged children are home schooled. And in 1999 those numbers were estimated to be 900,000 to 2,000,000 children in the United States. Home schooling is legal in New Jersey and is not a new idea; in fact, it has been around longer than the public school system we know today. Some of the most famous people in history were educated at home: Alexander The Great, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Thomas Edison, Booker T. Washington, Mozart, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frank Lloyd Wright, and more recently Venus and Serena Williams, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and The Jonas Brothers, just to name a few. Check out the website famoushomeschoolers. net for a more comprehensive list; homeschooled students are in very good company. The reasons for home schooling are as numerous as the students themselves. Some families do it for religious reasons and some because they are disenchanted with public school curriculum. Some children are homeschooled because they are actors or models whose schedules prohibit regular school attendance and others because their parents travel for work. Some parents
simply want the ability to create an individualized education that fits their child’s personal learning style. The reasons go on and on. The styles and structures of homeschooling situations are as varied as the reasons for homeschooling. Some are “unschooling”, home school “day schools”, tutors, and can include a purchased structured curriculum or one you simply tailored to your child’s personal learning style. (Unschooling is homeschooling that tries to keep the natural curiosity innate in children to explore and learn from the world around them without forced structured curriculum and testing.) The sky’s the limit in regards to how to teach your child the 3 R’s. The key word here is YOUR child, so let your child’s interests and personal learning style be your guide. You don’t have to conform to a standardized cookie cutter curriculum anymore, so be creative and have fun; it is much easier than you think. The world is your classroom. A regular outing to the supermarket can
become a lesson in mathematics. Your child can learn to count out change or calculate which size of a product is the best buy. A lesson in making healthy food choices by reading and understanding labels is also a possibility. Finally, providing an opportunity to plan and prepare the meals is a great lesson for everyday life. In addition to a simple trip to the grocery store, taking family vacations to museums, historical towns, farms, etc. while most other students are participating in a traditional school schedule makes the cost more affordable and the experiences less hectic because there are fewer crowds. In addition to the educational value of these “being there” experiences, you will also be creating a history of family memories.
Michele Errichetti is a Mom of All Trades. She homeschooled her two sons, is a homemaker, organic non-GMO food advocate, a part time stylist, committee volunteer, freelance writer and Atlantic County Editor for foodie magazine Her dream is to one day write a novel that becomes a major motion picture, just as soon as she can find the time.
February/March 2012
www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
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February/March 2012
School Lunch Nutrition:
Know the Guidelines
By Deanne P. Walther, DTR The School lunches must meet the applicable recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans such as limiting calories from fat. Lunches must also provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for certain key nutrients. While school lunches must meet Federal requirements, decisions about what specific foods to serve and how they are prepared are made locally.
Children that bring lunches or snacks to school should also maintain healthy choices.
Some examples are:
What are the nutritional requirements for school lunches? No more than 30 percent of an individual’s calories come from fat, and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. Regulations also establish a standard for school lunches to provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories.
helpful websites www.schoolnutrition.org www.fns.usda.gov/cnd References:
www.fns.usda.gov/cga/FactSheets/ 2011_lunch.pdf www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/ AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf)
Lunch Box Tip!
Put a note in your child’s lunch box. It will surely brighten their day!!
Pack A Lunch
• Whole grain breads, crackers, pita
• Sugar free cookies
• Low fat string cheese
• Natural peanut butter ( look for the ones without hydrogenated oils)
• Skim or 1% milk
• Hummus
• High fiber granola bars
• Homemade muffins with fruit or veggies (ex. Banana, zucchini, pumpkin) throw a few chocolate chips in to make it enticing
• Fresh fruits and vegetables • Dried fruits or raisins • Fruit cups with juice not syrup • Water, 100% fruit juice or 100% vegetable juice • Low salt, low fat cheeses • Low salt, low fat meats • Sugar free jellies or sugar free fruit spread • Pretzels
• Baked chips or other products • Low fat dipping sauces • Mustard
• Homemade cookies that are high in fiber (oats)
• Low fat mayonnaise • Low fat yogurt • Low fat cottage cheese • Hard boiled eggs • Nuts • Unsweetened applesauce • Popcorn
Teaching children to make good choices early on is very important. Getting them involved in the decisions about what they will pack for lunch and having them help make their lunch will motivate them to enjoy what eventually ends up in that lunch box.
February/March 2012
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February is February 3
Free Dental Care
February 12
Happy Birthday President Lincoln
February 4
Free Kids Concert: Exploring African American Folk Songs
February 14 Happy Valentines Day
2:00 pm at Atlantic County Library, Galloway Branch
February 4 & 5
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Northfield Little League Registration: Feb.4th & 11th 9a-12p, Where: Northfield Community School Price $55
MidWinter Antique Show @ Wheaton Arts
Atlantic United Soccer U 10 Girls Open Practice Euroports Indoor Complex, EHC Feb. 7th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 23rd 5-6p
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The ceremony is free for all couples and their guests, and will be performed in the Ballroom in Boardwalk Hall at 2 p.m. The event will include a champagne toast, wedding cake and photo opportunities.
President’s Day
EHT Soccer Club Registration: Feb.18th 10a-12p, Feb. 22nd, 23rd, 29th 6-8p Where: New Community Center Price: $45
Atlantic United Soccer AU Shooting Stars/Special Needs ages 9 & up Tartaglio field Price: $20
Get married!!
February 20
SOCCER
Galloway United Community Soccer First Kick Clinic, age 3 & 4 Price $55 register at - www.gallowaysoccer.com
DeLIGHTful Date Weekend at the Absecon Lighthouse 2 climb for the price of 1
Dentists in Atlantic County will be providing FREE dental screenings for children for the national Give Kids a Smile Campaign. Appointments are required
sports sign-ups
February 11 & 12
February 22
Happy Birthday President washington February 8
The History of Railroads in the Mays Landing area
Twp. of Hamilton Historical Society Guest Speaker Series 7:30-9:30pm at Presbyterian Church, Mays Landing
February 11
Annual Children’s Tea
2pm at the Ocean City Historical Museum
www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
February 25
Gracie’s Birthday Celebration
Don’t Miss Gracie’s Birthday Party withLive Turtles, Turtle Feedings, Music and more Inside the Shore MallAcross from the Jersey Shore Children’s Museum
February/March 2012
Family Marketplace LEAP
year
March 1st March 4
Horseback Riding Show stating at 8:30 am at the Atlantic Riding Center for Health 206 Asbury Rd., EHT
March 11
Reminder Daylight Savings “Spring Forward” March 11
Art Exhibit & Reception 1-3pm at the Absecon Lighthouse
March 19
Moscow Festival Ballet Cinderella
Advertise in Jersey Shore Family’s new
7-9pm at Performing Arts Center www.intraweb. stockton.edu
Marketplace Your Ad Here for as low as $47.50/month
March 17
Call (609) 829-8796
Celebrate St. Patricks Day
for more information or to reserve your space
11:30am at Atlantic County Library, Ventnor Branch
St. Patrick Day Craft
1pm at Atlantic County Library, Egg Harbor Township Branch
Look for the Easter Bunny at the Shore Mall & Hamilton Mall’s (end of March)
For more events and updated information visit www.jerseyshorefamily.com and click the “calendar” tab
February/March 2012
www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
is always interested in helping the public. If you want information on a specific topic, please let us know; and we wil help to answer your questions.
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Favorites
A+
Classroom Valentines Hallmark.com offers a fun way for kids to put their unique touch on Classroom Valentines. Simply upload a photo of your child to Hallmark.com and watch him or her become the star of the card! Kids can also customize the text, personalizing their Valentine message to friends. New designs for 2012 include Star Wars, Disney Princesses. Check out the full line at Hallmark.com. Here’s a special discount for Jersey Shore Family readers: 30% off of $10 or more by using CLASS30 at checkout (valid Jan. 17 – Feb. 14).
Tired of buying ine’s candy for Valent a ds ki Day... give the use gift that won’t ca ds ki ur O cavities. ong loved the Read Al s on DVD. Nice less on being kind and t! ou sharing. Check it
A new twist on Valentines for the classroom. Our kids love the idea of having their pics on cards... we can’t wait to see what their classmates think! Very cute... worth spending a few extra $$$. Great addition to scrapbook... Don’t forget to take advantage of the JSF discount (above).
Five stories about friendship make this the perfect DVD to give in anticipation of Valentine’s Day! When Marvin shows Milton how to make valentines, they decide to make one for each person in their neighborhood in “One Zillion Valentines”, an animated adaptation of Frank Modell’s sweet book about random acts of kindness and generosity. The DVD also includes Scholastic’s read-along function, perfect for building early reading skills which highlights words as they’re read, allowing viewers to follow the narrator. These animated stories are based on acclaimed children’s picture books, which have collectively sold more than 250,000 copies. The original books won the Caldecott Medal Award and The Library of Congress Book of the Year Award.
Blooming Expressions Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Hallmark introduces Blooming Expressions – a fresh new way to express your love again and again. With the press of a button, a flower blooms to reveal a special message for a special person. The best part — the flower closes and can bloom again and again, expressing your love and admiration any day of the year. You can find the full garden of Blooming Expressions at your local Hallmark Gold Crown store, as well as select Hallmark retailers for $14.95.
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gift for Very cool. Great grandmas, teachers, moms, anyone with babysitters... or other’s day m t a desk. Perfec quality, gift as well. Nice . Note that well worth $14.95 s are not on si Blooming Expres some up ck Pi e. available onlin V-Day or when buying your ting cards. Mother’s Day gree
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February/March 2012
Absecon Nursery School 100 Pitney Rd. Absecon, NJ 08201
609-646-6940
www.abseconnurseryschool.com We are a State Licensed, Non-Profit Preschool serving the community for over 40 years. We offer 3 year AM or PM classes Thurs&Fri, and 4 year AM, PM, or Extended Day classes Mon, Tues, and Wed.
Presents....
2012 Annual
School Resource Guide
Assumption Regional Catholic School 146 South Pitney Rd. Galloway, NJ 08205
609-652-7134
www.arcsgalloway.org Established in 1957, Assumption Regional Catholic School has excelled at helping students grade Pr K3 through 8th grow as learners and as individuals in a nurturing, safe, faithbased environment. ARCS programs, academics, clubs, performing arts, before and after school care and athletics, has the technology, the staff and the resources in place, to enable students to prepare spiritually, educationally and socially for high school and adulthood. Visit us, meet us, join us and become part of our promising future.
This one easy resource guide provides you with the tools to make the best decisions about your child’s education. You will find well respected Atlantic County preschools, daycares, and private schools listed alphabetically to help you find the one that best meets your family’s needs. February/March 2012
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2012 Annual
School Resource Guide Atlantic Christian School
391 Zion Rd. Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
609-653-1199
www.acseht.org Early Ed starting at 6 mos through 12th grade with full day Kindergarten Christian School located on 37 acres.
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Beginners First Academy 1201 Boulevard Route 50 Weymouth, NJ 08330
Holy Spirit High School 500 S New Road Absecon, NJ 08201
609-829-2292
609-646-3000
New Child Care center located in Weymouth Twp. NJ. Accepting children ages 6 weeks through 5 years and children 5-12 years for before and after school care. Summer Camp available for all ages. Provides breakfast, lunch and snack at no cost. Hours are 6am to 8pm with flexible scheduling available. Sheets and blankets are provided and laundered. Family, monthly and military discounts offered.
Holy Spirit High School – Celebrating 90 Years of Academic Excellence, Character, Faith and Service to Others.
www.bfa.comcastbiz.net
www.holyspirithighschool.com
Kid Academy Learning Center 101 Morton Avenue Absecon, NJ 08201
609-646-3435
www.kidacademy.com A licenced childcare facility ages 0-13, nestled behind Best Western Hotel and Holiday Inn Express on the White Horse Pike. Providing summer camp, a pool, and a playground. Over 25 years of childcare experience. Hours 6:30am6pm M-F.
www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
Little PALs Preschool and Kindergarten Plus 2594 Tilton Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
609-646-9586
www.ehtpal.org Certified teaching staff, small class sizes, programs for ages 6 weeks and older. Age appropriate curriculum including arts and crafts, science, and computers. Large outside enclosed play area. Before and after care also available. Winter, Spring and Summer Break Camps for children up to 13 years old. Easily accessible from Atlantic City Expressway, Parkway and Route 322.
February/March 2012
The Children’s House of Galloway
Reformation Lutheran Church, Route 9 and Biscayne Avenue, Galloway Township, NJ, 08205
609-464-2936
www.classjump.com/ thechildrenshouseofgalloway and Look for us on Facebook! The Children’s House of Galloway is a Montessori school for children aged 3-6 years. Children are given the freedom and independence they need while being carefully directed within a safe, caring environment.
Toddler Town, LLC
425 South Egg Harbor Rd. Hammonton, NJ 08037
Pilgrim Academy 301 W Moss Mill Rd. Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
609-965-2866
www.pilgrimacademy.org Pilgrim Academy is a Christian liberal arts college preparatory school founded in 1971, serving students in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, and Ocean counties. Open House Dates-Feb. 22nd 9-11 am, Mar. 15th 9-11 am, Apr. 26th 4-7 pm, May 9th 9-11 am
St.Vincent de Paul Regional School 5809 Main St. Mays Landing, NJ 08330
609-625-1565
www.svdprs.com
609-561-7300
A state licensed child care center that accepts children 6wks-6yrs. Hours of operation are M-F, 6:30am6pm. Very reasonable rates and will accommodate flexible schedules.
Trinity Learning Center
7004 Ridge Ave. EHT, NJ 08234
609-653-9001
www.trinitylearningcenter.org Trinity Learning Center provides a safe, happy, and educational environment, where your child can learn, make friends and grow academically, socially and spiritually through independent and teacher directed learning opportunities.
St. Vincent de Paul Regional School has been educating children for over 50 years. Our school prides itself on having a small school atmosphere with large school accomplishments. We have a full day Kindergarten program along with a part time or full time Pre-K. We also have before care and after care until 6:00 PM.
February/March 2012
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Public Schools vs. Charter/Magnet Schools by Mary-Jo Christini
In the past, the decision for most parents was simple; send the kids to private school or public school. Usually a fairly easy choice for most parents, Catholic School being the alternative to public. In the early 90s an emerging trend of Charter Schools began to pop up as parents and the educational community began to see the need for a more widely accepted alternative. Charter Schools offered the promise of more parental control, no religious associations and no tuition. Although still funded by public taxes, Charter Schools often required outside funding from parents and community sources. They operate under different guidelines and tout higher academic standards, innovative approaches in educational practices, and smaller classes. Many believe they also offer a greater ability to provide a safe environment than public schools. Charter school teachers must follow NCLB requirements resulting in a highly qualified and often specialized staff of educators. One of the most obvious differences is the need to apply to a charter school. Admission is not guaranteed and Charter schools often have more applicants that available slots. Many charter schools do not continue through high school and stop at the 8th grade forcing students to transition to the public school in 9th grade. Applying early is the best way to gain admittance. A new second choice for parents is the Magnet school. Magnet schools promotes total integration by encouraging families to enroll outside of their public school zones based on where they live. They also offer
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Atlantic County Charter Schools Charter Tech High School for Performing Arts 413 New Road., Somers Point
926-7694
www.chartertech.org District Funding Charter Funding
specialized programs focused on a consistent theme or method of teaching. Magnet schools receive additional funding enabling them to spend more money on their students, supplies and books and advanced programs not available to public or Charter schools. Magnet schools provide families more choice within the public school system and help desegregate public education. Some believe Magnet schools often hurt the public schools by depleting financial resources and taking the best and brightest students and excluding special needs or students who are challenged academically. In many Magnet schools a lottery system is applied to admission. Again early application increases a students odds for acceptance. They also give siblings preferential enrollment status if one sibling is already enrolled. Unlike most Charter schools Magnet schools at the elementary school, middle school, and high school levels enabling students to avoid transition to public school at high school level. Ultimately, the choice often comes down to the public school’s reputation and the student’s preference. Opinions range wildly and it’s the parent’s responsibility to research options thoroughly and allow their children to participate in the decision.
www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
Galloway Community Charter
112 South New York Rd., Galloway
652-7118
www.gccscharterschool.org
Institute for Excellence Charter School 41 South Rt. 73, Ste. 205, Hammonton
561-9414
tifecs.sjtp.net/Home.aspx
Oceanside Charter 1750 Bacharach Boulevard, AC
348-3485
www.oceansidecharter.com
PleasanTech Academy Charter 1 & 2
535 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Pleasantville 700 Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville
383-1717
www.pleasantech.com
Atlantic County Magnet School Cedar Creek High School
1701 New York Ave. Egg Harbor City
593-3560
www.cedarcreekhs.net
February/March 2012
Foreign Exchange Program by Michele Errichetti
Has your teenage child ever asked you if they could go to a foreign country? Does he or she have a desire to see the world? Maybe as a parent you feel it would be a wonderful cultural experience for your child to experience education abroad. Maybe you would like to host a foreign student in your own home to expose them to our country. A Foreign Exchange Program may just be the answer. There are many reputable programs available through various organizations in the U.S. Many resources are available on the web as well as at your local library. Local school districts and religious organizations also sponsor student exchanges. According to Roy Kline, Secretary and Youth Officer for the local Rotary Club of Mays Landing, the student exchange program referred to as ESSEX includes 36 Rotary districts in the northeastern United States, eastern Canada, and Bermuda. Their program requires a background check and personal references for both the student and the host family to ensure the safety of all individuals. Their program, on the district level , has between seven and ten students participating, with one student staying with a host family in Mays Landing. Each child is provided a counselor to help with adjusting to a new environment and new home. The counselor is always available throughout the school year to provide support and assistance. Many countries such as France, Poland, India, Japan
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and Ecuador, just to name a few, participate in exchanges. The students are expected to speak the foreign language of the country they request fairly well. Foreign language programs like Rosetta Stone are recommended. They also ask that interested students choose at least five countries; usually the students get their first or second choice. In this program the teens, aged 15 ½ to 18 ½, attend high school while they are with the host family in the U.S. and abroad. The students should be above average in class rank, preferably in the top third. The teens are treated like members of the family and may be asked to perform the same chores as the rest of the family. However, they are not expected to be nannies. The teenagers are asked to follow the Four D’s: NO Drinking, Driving, Drugs or Dating. Travel expenses are the responsibility of the sending families and insurance must be provided for the child in the program. The host family program here starts in March, April, and May while outbound starts in September, with interviews in November. If you think this is something you would like to explore with your family, you can email Roy Kline at roy@ fscoi.com. You can read a lot more about this amazing chance to share your home and your heart at ESSEX on the web at www.exchangestudent.org . Some other student exchange sites are www.ayusa.org , www. oneworldyouthproject.org, and www.afsusa.org. www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
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The Pilgrim Academy
Shaping Lives Through Christian Education Open House Dates Feb. 22, 9-11 am March 15, 9-11 am April 26, 4-7 pm May 9, 9-11 am Pilgrim Academy is a Christian liberal arts college preparatory school founded in 1971, serving students in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, and Ocean counties.
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301 W Moss Mill Rd • (609) 965-2866 www.pilgrimacademy.org www.JerseyShoreFamily.com
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