Memorial School is an elementary school serving grades PreK-4 in the North Haledon School District. Memorial School is located at 201 Squawbrook Road. The school has well maintained grounds, and a new playground area. Total enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year is approximately 400 students with a professional staff of 50 that serve our students.
The mission of Memorial School is to promote academic excellence in a caring environment where independence and a sense of responsibility are developed. Focusing on the whole child, teachers develop appropriate activities that address the academic, social, and emotional needs of each child. Teachers strive to build on successful experiences for every child on a daily basis.
Students receive a well-balanced education that meets the requirements of the New Jersey State Department of Education. The curriculum consists of reading, language arts, mathematics, life skills, computers, social studies, science, art, music and physical education. Mastery of the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics are stressed throughout the grades. Additionally, goals focus on teaching children to think, communicate effectively, work well with others, be creative, and to use their knowledge to solve problems. Classroom experiences are designed to insure that students develop the necessary skills and strategies to become lifelong learners and face the challenges of the next century.
The school was built in 2008. The school contains spacious classrooms, a cafeteria, gymnasium, nurse’s station, office area, pre-school classroom, and several smaller teaching areas for speech, ESL, Basic Skills instruction, and special education. The media center, houses a wealth of fiction and non-fiction books, a large instructional area, and is adjacent to a state of the art computer lab with 30 computers. Each classroom is also equipped with several networked computers and a printer. All computers have direct access to the Internet and most classrooms have Smartboards. Technology is utilized to enhance the learning process at all grade levels using a variety of software that is related to the subject areas.
A wide range of extra services is available for students. The Intervention and Referral Services Committee is comprised of North Haledon School staff members. This committee reviews requests from teachers or parents for assistance with students who are experiencing difficulty in the classroom. Should further assistance be required, the Child Study Team provides diagnostic and consultative services to pupils who are identified in need of special education in order to succeed in their school program. The ESL (English as a Second Language) program serves the children in the school who speak different languages. This program also celebrates the multi-cultural aspects of the diverse student population. The Basic Skills Improvement Program provides support for students who need assistance in the areas of reading, language, or mathematics.
The Memorial School students enjoy being taught by specialists in the areas of Technology, Music, Art, Library, and Physical Education. The Life Skills program infuses character education such as the BABES program which is sponsored by the North Haledon Municipal Alliance.
Parents and students enjoy a before and after school child care program operated on a tuition basis, by Little Steps to Learning. This program insures the safe and efficient supervision of children for parents needing this service.
Parents are also an integral part of the school community. They volunteer and provide funds for a variety of activities which support the mission of the school such as volunteering in the library, reading with children in individual classes, helping with classroom activities, and participating in PTO projects. Family Reading Day and Grand Event Day serve as symbols of the school’s belief in the importance of families and the school reading and sharing traditions together.
The Memorial School staff has demonstrated a commitment to continued professional improvement and growth. Teachers participate in building level study groups that focus on curriculum areas such as writing, differentiated instruction, and best practices in reading and mathematics instruction. In the district of North Haledon there is a comprehensive long-term curriculum revision process in place where each area of the curriculum is reviewed and evaluated on an on-going basis.
Memorial School is an exciting professional learning community. The students have the opportunity to participate and become involved with visiting authors, illustrators, and scientists through fine assembly programs. Students have performed on stage, conducted research, solved complex mathematical problems, studied a variety of topics, and discovered the joy of reading and writing. They have learned the importance of assisting others through food drives and holiday gift service projects. Students learn about the character trait of the month such as honesty, kindness, and responsibility through literature, song, and projects. All of these experiences enrich and support learning at Memorial School.
The students thrive in an atmosphere that is rich in educational opportunity. They are nurtured by a caring network of teachers, parents, administrators, and community members who recognize the vital role of a neighborhood school.
Giovanni Giancaspro
Memorial School Principal
