Mine Hill BOE
Fall 2017 Newsletter
Mine Hill Board of Education Members
Bridget Mauro (President), Jill Del Rio (Vice-President), Katie Bartnick, Karen Bruseo, Peter Bruseo, Dina Mikulka, Brianna O'Brien, and Carolina Rodriguez (Board Secretary)
From the Superintendent
French philosopher Albert Camus once said, "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." It is an amazing time a year, and our staff and students have been quite busy. I hope that this newsletter along with our twitter, website, and facebook pages give you a glimpse of the impressive activities, events, and academic programs throughout the Canfield Avenue School.
In addition to our fabulous staff and students, I want to give kudos to our wonderful board members that voluntarily support our efforts and achieved several goals over the past three years. After over a decade of attempts, the Green Hallway is finally getting the HVAC upgrade necessary to assure a comfortable learning environment for our kids. An extensive feasibility study and petition of appeal was submitted to the state in an effort to keep our 7th and 8th graders at CAS. Our academic programs and professional development for staff have yielded positive gains on state standardized test scores. Shifting to an overall philosophy of a sustainable future, the board won bronze level certification from the Sustainable NJ organization. A complete overhaul of the curriculum and the addition of curriculum coordinators will ensure a truly collaborative learning community and continued growth in the future. Most important, the board's efforts have resulted in administrative consistency, which has proven to be an essential factor in a thriving district.
THANK YOU to all of the stakeholders that have contributed to the growth and achievements of our district. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed by the New Jersey Department of Education, as they have designated the Mine Hill School District as one of only seven Lighthouse Districts throughout the state. I am so proud and honored to serve as your superintendent, and look forward to leading and learning with you every day!
Have a GREAT Thanksgiving Holiday and, as always, if you have any questions concerns, accolades, or great ideas, feel free to reach out to me directly!
Best Regards,
Mr. Nittel
Mine Hill Designated a Lighthouse District at the NJ State Board of Education Meeting in Trenton 11/01/17
7th and 8th Grade Update
Towards the end of August 2017, a settlement hearing was scheduled. However, Dover decided (the day before) to not participate in the conference. As a result, the case has been handed over to an Administrative Law Judge and the trial is set to begin on February 12, 2018.
Although this has placed a significant delay in adding 7th and 8th-grade programs to CAS, the Board of Education and Administration firmly believe that keeping 7th and 8th graders at CAS is the best case scenario both financially and educationally for the Mine Hill community.
If you are seeking further information, please reach out to the Superintendent, Lee Nittel, anytime or attend a board of education meeting in Mine Hill or Dover. The dates are listed on the districts' websites.
Board Goal: Develop contemporary learning spaces.
Functional Storage Spaces
Fun Seating for Mini-Lessons
Contemporary Design
The School Alliance Insurance Fund (SAIF) Award
HVAC Project
According to an article published in the Penn State Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis Journal, "a growing body of research has found that school facilities can have a profound impact on both teacher and student outcomes.
One consistent research finding across individuals of all ages is that the temperature in which a person works affects engagement levels and overall productivity—including student achievement. Anyone that has worked in a classroom or office that is too hot or too cold knows how difficult it can be when trying to work when the temperature is uncomfortable. According to the best analyses, the ideal temperature range for effective learning in reading and mathematics is between 68º and 74º.
Indoor air quality is also a concern because poor air quality is a major contributor to absenteeism for students with asthma. Research also indicates that many schools suffer from “sick building syndrome” which affects the absenteeism and performance of all students. Moreover, bacteria, viruses, and allergens that contribute to childhood disease are commonly found in schools with poor ventilation systems."
The staff, students, and administrators are excited to see these improvements taking place, and look forward to the completion of Phase I in the spring.
(The Importance of School Facilities in Improving Student Outcomes. (2015, June 7). Retrieved November 15, 2017, from http://sites.psu.edu/ceepa/2015/06/07/the-importance-of-school-facilities-in-improving-student-outcomes/)
A Fresh New Look for Room 102
New Book Cases Flank the Unit Ventilator
Ah! Fresh Air!
Future Ready Schools
From Mr. Martyniuk's Class
5th graders learned how to construct a fair test of a hypothesis using toy cars and racetracks
From Mr. Martyniuk's Class
CAS uses STopIt App to Report Bullying
STOPit is an online reporting tool that allows parents and students to report incidents of abuse, bullying, or personal crisis. See PDF below for further information.
Stop!t App
CAS students will now have the ability to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to dealing with incidents of inappropriate behavior and bullying. The Stop!t app gives students and parents the ability to report incidents to the administration and the Anti-Bullying specialist anonymously. When students are comfortable sharing information, more students will start asking for and getting the help they need, and the school will have the ability to address issues early on before they spiral out of control.
For more information, see the StopIt letter below.
Student Created Newsletters
See the newsletters below:
PARCC Presentation
Our results over the past three years have shown significant growth in ELA and Mathematics. The efforts were recognized by the NJ Department of Education, designating Mine Hill as one of only seven districts in the state deemed a New Jersey Lighthouse District.
Mine Hill Township Board of Education
Email: lnittel@minehillcas.org
Website: www.Minehillcas.org
Location: 42 Canfield Avenue, Mine Hill Township, NJ, United States
Phone: (973) 366-0590
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MineHillCAS
Twitter: @MineHillCAS