Ms. Christensen's Classroom
 

The kindergarten classes visit Von Thun's Farm in Dayton. It is a 15-minute ride to get there by bus. When they arrive, the children go on a hayride. That is a lot of fun for them. The people who work at the farm explain the different types of plants. When they get off the hayride, they are able to pick whichever pumpkin they like. After that, they tour a farm store. They also get to see many animals.

The purpose of the trip is to make the children more familiar with farms and to see a working one with fields and animals. It helps the children appreciate another way of life and it helps them understand where food comes from. Many of them had thought that you just go to ShopRite or Pathmark and there it is. The trip helps them get an understanding of how the food is harvested and how it gets to the market. Ms.Christensen's favorite part of the trip is the hayride. You bump along on big piles of hay. It is a fun day for the children and they learn a lot.
 

Ms. Smith's Classroom
 

1^st grade students are learning to read and write with good grammar. In Math they learn to identify and count coins, tell time, and read a thermometer. In Science they are studying organisms and their habitats, properties of objects, and the nature of plants. Social Studies are informing the students about peoples’ occupations, their communities, the continents and the globe. Lessons in Health instruct the children about the importance of good hygiene and dental habits. Character education emphasizes the importance of feelings in respecting others and ourselves.

Wow, they learn all this and still make time to write poetry and letters to senior citizens. Class trips to the Crayola Factory, Doyle’s Farm, and EBHS are fun and instructive.

back to top

Ms. Vacchio's Classroom
 

In the Second Grade students concentrate on increasing reading and writing skills. They learn about different styles of poetry and genres of literature. They apply these skills to their poetry books and writing pieces. One topic is the nature of heroes. Classes discuss the character traits of admirable people. The students then compose an essay about someone in their lives that they admire. The heroes are then invited to the classroom to listen to their tributes. Social studies teach the children about the roles of their ancestors in their lives and in the diversity of the world’s people.

Math muscles are flexed as second graders learn multiplication and division. Fractions become more complex and time is measured by minutes. In science the students grow peanuts and learn about the products they provide. Children also conduct an experiment that teaches them about the life cycles of tadpoles and frogs.

Another of the year’s highlights is a trip to the Monmouth Museum.

back to top

Third graders are learning myriad skills that they will need to progress. Among these is learning how to create a research paper. They use various sources as they research their topics and organize their facts for presentation. Some of the skills they have gained in the computer lab come into play also. For the first time they will use Athena to find a book about their topic. They use Encarta, Grolier, and the Internet to find facts and photos.

In the sciences the students are tackling more sophisticated subject matter. In physical science the students are learning to experiment, record, and discuss the results of their hands-on experiments, while mathematics has introduced the children to geometry and metrics.

Third grade class trips include excursions to the nearby East Brunswick Museum for exposure to some local history as well as to the Newark Museum.

back to top

Ms. Rizkalla's Classroom

Fourth Grade studies range from local politics to the universe and back again. Students are learning about New Jersey from demography to geography. They top it off with field trips to the Rutgers Agricultural Museum, the Trenton Museum and the State House. Studies also encompass a broader history of the United States and a research project on National Parks.

Fourth graders are privileged to spend time in the district’s touring planetarium. They learn about the solar system and constellations. They then use both their knowledge and their imaginations to design travel posters to the planets! They are well equipped to savor their trip to the Franklin Institute.

back to top

Ms. Savino's Classroom
 

Fifth graders are striving for lofty goals. In order to become productive citizens of the planet, students will need to be able to deal with situations in a constructive manner. They will be building positive character traits and learning to utilize the tools at their disposal so that they may be successful in life.

During this term they will be honing their researching skills, culminating in an oral presentation with accompanying power point slideshow before a panel of judges.

Trashpower is a long range science project wherein the students acquire and apply knowledge of recycling and conservation. They even construct self-contained mini-landfills for observation. After probing the depths of microbial function in the decomposition process the students will launch into the mechanics of rocketry. But before the final countdown begins, they will first have to construct their own model rockets.

Fifth graders enjoy instructional outings to Liberty Science Center and to Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

back to top

How to even begin to describe how art enriches our lives? Art is the universal language that bridges all cultures. Ms. Brewer guides our students as they begin to understand the visual elements in the world around them. She steers this course through age appropriate assignments that challenge their abilities while giving wing to fancy. To inspire while setting boundaries is no easy task, yet Ms. Brewer succeeds!

Our hallways are always adorned with interesting and beautiful projects that all of our students at Central School may be proud of. From among these a few are chosen each year to be displayed at the East Brunswick Public Library, so that a portion of our pleasure may be shared with the rest of our community.

Library Science has never been as exciting as now! Students are learning about books. They are introduced to prizewinning literature such as Caldecott Medal winner The Three Pigs by David Wiesner and Newbury Award winners Bridge to Terebithia and Holes. Harry Potter novels are wildly popular, as are any in the Magic Tree House series. Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, and Eric Carle are among the favorite authors.

Technology has been integrated into the curriculum with the use of a wide spectrum of programs. Students use the Athena program to locate books of their choosing in the library. After they have enjoyed a book they may take a quiz about the contents using Accelerated Reader. AR can be used to track their reading skills while encouraging recreational reading. Following is a link to the list of books in the Central School library for which we currently have quizzes. They are listed by title and author. The list is sorted alphabetically by title name.

Central School Accelerated Reader Test List

Students from kindergartners to upper classmen are also instructed in technology skills in our Computer Lab. They are learning research skills and techniques that will benefit them as they continue their lives through junior and high schools, college, and even their professional careers.

Students become familiar with the use of a variety of programs. When conducting a research project they use the Athena program to locate a library book about their topic. They use Encarta, Grolier, and the Internet to find additional facts and photos. An intensive course of Type to Learn prepares them for the task of typing their report.

Our computer lab is currently equipped with 32 Dell computers. They are loaded with the standard Windows 98 package. Students become proficient with Word and PowerPoint as well as the aforementioned programs. There are a number of other programs also available. Even kindergarten students are introduced to KidPix. Older students enjoy more art programs such as Printshop, Flying Colors, and Adobe Photoshop. Our students are also privileged to have access to a baker’s dozen of excellent math programs that painlessly hone calculating skills while the children have fun.

We are also now the proud owners of a wireless lab. It consists of two portable carts equipped with 16 Dell laptops each. Our  students have again exhibited the capacity of the young to adapt to new things and they have done it while demonstrating their capabilities. They have exercised great caution and responsibility in the handling of this equipment that we have been privileged to receive.

back to top

Good health is something that most of us have been lucky enough to take for granted. Physical education teaches the children that good health is not something that should be taken for granted, but should be carefully cultivated and reinforced. Ms. Tango feels that it is important for the students to learn the basic skills required so that they may enjoy various sports. The activities that they participate in during gym help promote agility and performance. Gaining proficiency helps builds self-confidence and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Field day is one of the true highlights of our school calendar. Everybody participates in Ms. Tango’s carefully planned day of fitness activities cleverly disguised as fun and games.

back to top

Music may indeed be the soul of language, but one still needs to learn its’ grammar and vocabulary. There is none better suited for instructing our children through these intricacies than our teacher of the year, Ms. Weiss. She teaches the mechanics behind the beauty and her students emerge with a new awareness and appreciation of the power of music.

back to top