Curriculum Matters
MTSD / Volume 2 / Issue 9 / June 2016
MTSD Office of Instructional Services
Deborah Sarmir—Assistant Superintendent Curriculum/Instruction
Damian Pappa—Director Assessment/Data/Accountability
Fiona Borland—Director Instructional Technology
Ron Zalika —Director Curriculum
Lucianne Smith—Executive Assistant
MTSD Content Area Supervisors
Jennifer Riddell—MHS Mathematics
Alma Reyes—World Languages & ESL
Melissa Hodgson—MHS Social Studies
Adam Warshafsky—Visual & Performing Arts
Jason Sullivan—MHS Science
Lisa Romano—LMS/UMS Language Arts & Social Studies
Karen Stalowski—MHS Language Arts
Christopher Herte—LMS/UMS Mathematics & Science
Amy Wish—OHES/VES Mathematics & Science
Amy Monaco—OHES/VES Language Arts & Social Studies
Naoma Green—MHS Physical Education & Health
Website: http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/domain/25
Phone: (609) 466-7600
From the Office of Instructional Services
The MTSD Curriculum Matters newsletter communicates our curricular happenings and instructional activities across grade levels and content areas to educators, parents and students. It also provides a closer look at the some of the unique learning experiences and outcomes that our students undertake. Please browse through these updates provided by our talented team of educational professionals.
Summer Curriculum Writing
MTSD has a never-ending commitment to creating and maintaining a guaranteed and viable curriculum that will ensure our students' academic success. This summer, 98 of our 316 courses will undergo various levels of revision in preparation for September.
Some of our courses currently being revised include:
- Science in Grades K-12
- Pre-School
- MHS World Studies & US History
- Pre-Algebra in Grades 6 & 7
- MHS Orchestra & Choir
- English as a Second Language in Grades 5-8
- Math in Grades K-4
- MHS English Elective Courses in Grades 11 & 12
- Reading & Writing in Grades K-4
- MHS Game Design & Web Design
- Language Arts in Grades 5-8
- MHS French, German, Spanish & Latin
We invite you to access all of our curriculum guides through THIS LINK. Doing so will give you the opportunity to view our collaboratively written curricula, which is based on the adopted learning standards for the state of New Jersey.
Summer 2016: Assignments and Reading Lists
The Montgomery Township School District believes in maintaining a balance among academic, social, and personal wellness needs. Our students use summer in order to relax, pursue new ventures, and socialize with family and friends. At the same time, we recognize that education is a continual process that does not cease at the end of a school year. Therefore, students are asked to complete reasonable and judiciously constructed summer assignments. This has been a longstanding practice in Montgomery, aimed at reinforcement, enrichment and advancement.
As always, summer work will be used as the foundation for other assignments and future assessments in that course of study. Students will be expected to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the material in a variety of ways.
Please reference THIS LINK, which contains a comprehensive list of summer readings and assignments. It is highly recommended that you speak with your child about these important readings and assignments. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the specific content area supervisor directly.
Enrichment and Acceleration Programming Information Session
On June 16th, the Director of Curriculum, Ron Zalika, held an information session on district enrichment and acceleration programming at Orchard Hill Elementary School and Village Elementary School. The group engaged in a fantastic dialogue regarding the district's enrichment and acceleration philosophy and implementation plans for the 2016-17 school year.
For a copy of the presentation, please visit http://www.mtsd.k12.nj.us/Page/14296.
MTSD Mission and Vision Statements
Our mission as a forward-thinking community is to ensure that all students grow into confident, compassionate, successful, and self-directed learners a multi-cultural and socio-economically diverse society by providing engaging and challenging real world educational experiences in a student-centered environment.
Vision Statement
We envision a district on the forefront of public education. We focus on the needs of every child, dedicating ourselves to their present and future success. Success means that all students possess a passion for learning, develop a deep understanding of rigorous content, demonstrate cultural competence, and exhibit ethical conduct, while cultivating social skills and healthy habits that will empower them to achieve their goals and aspirations. Achieving this vision requires that the district become a learning community that continually reflects and challenges itself to effect transformational teaching and learning. We prepare our students to take responsibility for their own educational accomplishments in our global society while nurturing them in a community where each student is known and valued. We believe by embracing frontier spirit, we can create a unique organization that is recognized as a forerunner in public education.