Page 4 • Wednesday , August 30 , 2017 • The Hammonton Gazette
School administrators looking forward to new school year
SCHOOL , from Page 1 supportive community . As we
begin the 2017-2018 academic year , we will continue to provide the instruction , curriculum and programs that have attributed to the success of every student at our elementary school ,” Warren E . Sooy Jr . Elementary School Principal Dr . Kristina Erman said . Sooy Elementary will look to further its academic program by responding to the new advances in technology of the 21st century . This is accomplished in part by various clubs that will continue this year , including robotics , digital technology , STEM and more . Also , in order to keep in tune with today ’ s arts culture , Erman said Sooy Elementary ’ s theatre academy program expanded to all four grade levels last year and will continue as such this year .
All grade levels will also be participating in the One Book Summer Reading program again this year as students will read the work of author and illustrator Jarrett J . Krosoczka , who will visit the school district in April .
“ Our author visits have been a successful part of our overall literacy program , and we hope to continue the tradition for many years ,” Erman said .
Also participating in the One Book program will be the Hammonton Early Childhood Education Center ( ECEC ), whose students will be reading It ’ s Tough to Lose Your Balloon by Krosoczka . In addition to Krosoczka , the ECEC will also receive a visit from literacy author and presenter Kari Yates , who previously worked with the staff on various early literacy topics .
“[ Yates ] worked with us last year , and the response was very positive . We are fortunate to partner with Mrs . Yates again this year to grow our professional expertise ,” ECEC Principal Darla Salay said .
The ECEC staff is planning to infuse more science into the classroom this year . One of the ways this will be facilitated is by the continued use of science kits , which were introduced last year and allow for more hands-on learning and problem-solving opportunities , according to Salay .
The district ’ s oldest facility , Hammonton Middle School ( HMS ), will begin the year with upgrades to several original construction areas , including three sets of bathrooms , the cafeteria and its kitchen and parts of the school ’ s floors .
“ There are certain little things that we ’ ve really needed around here . The board of education has really done a nice job of focusing on the middle school and getting some of these repairs done that need to be done ,” HMS Principal Michael Nolan said .
Also new at HMS this year will be a chorus class , which will be offered as an extra-curricular , afterschool program taught by Hammonton High School Select Choir director Marissa Carrafiello .
The number of students occupying HMS this year will be down from last year ’ s approximate total of 930 by about 60 to 70 students , but Nolan is optimistic about the faculty ’ s ability to perpetuate the culture of success seen at the school in recent years .
“ The outlook is very bright . Over the years , we have been able to establish a foundation that has been workable and has been sustainable for us , whereas a lot of the other districts around are suffering as far as not being able to offer the technology , sciences or the things that we can offer here , and we ’ ve been able to do it wisely ,” Nolan
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