Volume 12, Issue 2 Spring 2012

A Revival of

The Muppet Show A group of Stafford Intermediate 5th and

6th grade music students and teachers recently

recreated the 1976-1981 TV Series The Mup-

pet Show. Using songs, music, animation, live

action "show scenes" and short

films, along with a cast of lova-

ble human and Muppet charac-

ters, Stafford’s version of the

popular vaudeville, song and

dance, variety show, was de-

signed to nurture the young

child's natural curiosity and en-

thusiasm for performing.

And that's not all...with its

multicultural cast, The Muppet

Show offered a window

through which children could

explore the world, helping them

to feel good about who they are and take pride

in what they do. By encouraging children to

develop the confidence and skills to succeed in

school and in the community around them, our

Muppet Show helped to foster a lifelong love

of performing.

With Kermit D. Frog

leading the pack as the

MC, the stage came alive

celebrating and embrac-

ing diversity and inclu-

siveness, encourag-

ing children and adults to

celebrate all the things that

make people unique by

modeling relationships in

which people respect each

other, cooperate, and resolve

conflicts.

We're all the same…….

and different!

STAC Mural Project Launched in February 2012, the vision of the STAC mural project was to create

an Art Deco inspired space that would serve as an educational tool for both stu-

dents and patrons of the theater. Utilizing the talents of professional muralist Bob

Mataranglo, as well as Stafford Township School District staff and students, the

first phase of the project included the surfaces outside the box office and conces-

sion stand, including three of the icon portraits. Now a year later, the second phase

has enhanced the lobby by adding a border around the space, which serves to con-

nect the two previous murals. This phase also includes the embellishments around

the theater entrance, the comedy and tragedy masks on the entryway columns, and

the addition of two new icon portraits.

The STAC Lobby has become the perfect starting point for the Art Deco/Nouveau unit in the sixth grade art cur-

riculum and the mural provides students with a tangible and concrete visual example of the style. The mural also

allows for an introduction to mural painting and the Re-

vivalist Architectural Movement.

Funded by Producers, a parent organization that supports

the visual and performing arts in Stafford’s schools, the

STAC Art Deco Mural will continue to inspire and educate

the students and community of Stafford Township for many

years to come.

Artists in Education This year, the district was fortunate to receive two Artist in Education grants. Each

grant provided for up to 20 hours of instruction by a professional artist.

At the kickoff event for the Intermediate School students there were performances

by three Irish step dancers. Students then learned soft and hard shoe Irish step dance

over a 10 week period. They also learned about the history of this type of dance as well as

Irish culture. The final activity included a performance for their peers which included a

comparison between traditional tap and hard toe Irish Step Dance.

On the other side of town at the Ocean Acres School, first and second grade students

worked with abstract movement dance artist Lela Aisha Jones learning movement and

rhythm. Through dance they are also learning to follow directions, work as a group, and

take turns in the spotlight.

The Artists-in-Education (AIE) Program is carried out through the partnership between

the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and a consor-

tium made up of Arts Horizons and Young Audiences New Jersey. This program provides New Jersey schools with

long-term artist residencies. The program is made possible through state appropriations to the New Jersey State

Council on the Arts as well as funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge

Foundation.

Above – Intermediate Students perform hard shoe step

dance, which makes a sound similar to tap shoes, Profes-

sional Irish step dancer Laura Neese performs for students;

Right- Lela Aisha Jones works with students at the Ocean

Acres School; Students performing the Carnival of Animals

at the residency’s culminating performance.

Students Helping Students

April is

Autism Awareness

Month

The district and PTA are working together

to commemorate Autism Awareness Month.

Each year, on April 2, students and staff across

the district are invited to dress in with a multi-

colored flair to celebrate being different. This

idea was first proposed by the PTA and was

fully embraced by the school population to

support the autistic students in our district.

This year, we are commemorating the entire

month by placing blue lights in the lobby of

each school and STAC. The PTA recently sold

blue light bulbs for $1 each to help raise aware-

ness while supporting our local families affect-

ed by autism. Our hope is that porches all

around town will be glowing blue during the

month of April!

Understanding Autism

Autism is a disorder of neural development

characterized by impaired social interaction

and communication, and by restricted and re-

petitive behavior. These signs all begin before

a child is three years old. Autism affects infor-

mation processing in the brain by altering how

nerve cells and their synapses connect and or-

ganize. How this occurs is not well understood.

It is one of three recognized disorders in the

autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being

Asperger syndrome, identified by delays in

cognitive development and language, and Per-

vasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise

Specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-

NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of

criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are

not met.

Students Helping Students is an Intermediate

School Fundraising Committee that involves stu-

dents in raising money for Intermediate School stu-

dents affected by Super Storm Sandy. From Valen-

tine’s Day to St. Patrick's Day, they hosted a Penny

Storm Contest!

The contest was a friendly competition between

the 5th and 6th graders and students were asked to

bring spare coins to school to be placed in jugs

marked with their grade level.

A total of $753.66 was raised - $359.24 by 6th

graders and $394.42 by 5th graders, who earned an

extra recess period for collecting the most money.

All of the money raised will be used to assist stu-

dents in our Intermediate School who have been af-

fected by the storm. Thank you to the Intermediate

students and families for your generosity!

Why Are the Lights Blue?

During the month of April, lights in each school

lobby and STAC will be blue. We are joining

the rest of the world to commemorate Autism

Awareness Month.

2013/2014 School Budget News

The Stafford Township K-6 School District Board of Education has approved the tentative

2013/2014 budget with no increase in the tax levy. The Board decided not to increase the school

budget to the 2% allowable cap noting the need to be fiscally prudent in recognition of the community

losses sustained after hurricane Sandy. The local share last year, including debt service, was

$26,178,482 and the local share for the 2013/2014 school year will be $25,817,889.

Financial information from the Township indicates that Stafford’s total ratables have decreased by

18%. What this means is that, although the school budget has not increased, because there is less

money coming into township via ratables, the tax rate will increase to 1.9 cents per $100 of assessed

valuation.

The taxes for the average home in Stafford Township (assessed at $300,000) will see an increase

of $84. To determine the amount of tax that will be paid, a homeowner must take the assessed value

of their property and divide it by 100, then multiply by .618. To determine the amount of increase, sub-

tract this figure from the amount of tax paid last year.

According to the most recent data supplied by the NJ State Department of Education’s Taxpayer’s

Guide to Education Spending, Stafford Township K-6 School District’s 2011/2012 total cost per pupil

was $16,881, which is lower the State Average of $18,045. The district’s Classroom Instruction Cost

Per Pupil (($7,256) and Administrative Costs Per Pupil ($1,313) are also lower than the State Average

($8,201 and $1,457, respectively). These are clear indicators that our district is committed to reducing

costs and making responsible financial decisions for our taxpayers while preserving the superior

education to which our community has become accustomed.

How superior is a Stafford Township K-6 education? Read the School Performance Reports article

on the next page for the latest statistics.

Comparison of Assessed Valuation

and Corresponding Tax Rates

Value of Home Current Tax Proposed Tax Tax Increase

$150,000 $ 897 $ 927 $ 30

$200,000 $ 1196 $ 1252 $ 56

$250,000 $ 1495 $ 1565 $ 70

$300,000* $ 1794 $ 1878 $ 84

$350,000 $ 2093 $ 2191 $ 98

$400,000 $ 2392 $ 2504 $ 112

*The average home in Stafford Township

Stafford Township K-6 School District

School Performance Reports*

The State Department of Education has released the NJ School Performance Reports and we are proud to

announce the results for the McKinley Avenue and Intermediate Schools.

McKinley Avenue Elementary School’s academic performance was AVERAGE when compared to schools

across the state, but performance was HIGH when compared to its peer schools. Peer schools are defined by

the state as schools that have similar grade levels and students with similar demographic characteristics.

Stafford Intermediate School’s academic performance was HIGH when compared to schools across the state

and was also HIGH when compared to its peer schools.

Please note the terms, as defined by the State:

Very High Performance is defined as being equal to or above the 80th percentile

High Performance is defined as being between the 60.0th and 79.9th percentiles

Average Performance is defined as being between the 40.0th and 59.9th percentiles

Lagging Performance is defined as being between the 20.0th and 39.9th percentiles

Significantly Lagging Performance is defined as being equal to or below the 19.9th percentile

Additionally, McKinley’s student growth performance, a measure of how students progressed, was AVER-

AGE when compared to schools across the state and AVERAGE when compared to its peer schools. Interme-

diate’s growth performance was HIGH (equal to or above the 80th percentile) when compared to schools

across the state and VERY HIGH when compared to its peer schools.

The chart below shows the data for student growth performance for both schools:

* Source: NJ Department of Education School Performance Report 2013

Student Growth

Indicators

School-wide

Performance

Peer Rank

(Percentile)

Statewide Rank

(Percentile)

Statewide Target Target Met

Student Growth

Language Arts - McKinley

46 43 28 35% YES

Student Growth Math -

McKinley

58 70 63 35% YES

Summary - McKinley 57 46 100%

Student Growth Language

Arts - Intermediate

59 77 72 35% YES

Student Growth Math -

Intermediate

63 83 76 35% YES

Summary - Intermediate 80 74 100%

Each year the Young at Art pro-

gram brings professional artists

into our schools to work with stu-

dents. During these classroom

visits, the artists share examples

of their work, discuss their inspi-

rations and demonstrate the meth-

ods and tools they use. As part of

these mentoring experiences, stu-

dents are asked to create original

artwork inspired by or related to

the work of the guest artist.

The Annual Young at Art Show

is a celebration of the creativity

of Stafford’s students and the pro-

fessional visual artists who in-

spired them, as the student art is

exhibited alongside examples of

the professional artwork shared

during the classroom mentor ses-

sions.

This year, as a thank you to the

participating artists, the show

also included a Vendor Fair

where works of the professional

guest artists were offered for sale.

Ten Reasons Arts Education Matters* Arts education can increase student engagement.

Children learn positive habits, behaviors and attitudes.

The arts enhance creativity.

Students sharpen their critical intellectual skills.

The arts teach students methods for learning language skills.

The arts help students learn mathematics.

The arts expand on and enrich learning in other subjects.

Aesthetic learning is its own reward.

Students practice teamwork.

Arts education is just the beginning - many children discover their

talents and interests through the arts.

*Education Update, January 2013

Young at Art Show and Vendor Fair

The Ocean Acres School has

been busy celebrating Dr. Seuss’

Birthday. They were treated to a

visit by the Cat in the Hat and

Mrs. Sweeney held the annual

Battle of the Books trivia chal-

lenge. For four straight weeks

the second grade students

worked on trivia questions,

reading books and looking up

the answers. The student who

answered the most questions

correctly in each of the second

grade classes earned a spot in

the Battle of the Books chal-

lenge. Then the entire school

gathered to watch the three

teams (Cats,

Grinches and

Sneetches)

compete in

the game

show style

event.

Mrs. Bradley’s students re-

cently went a class trips to Great

Clips Hair Salon. The staff wet

and combed through the stu-

dents’ hair free of charge to help

the students become familiar

with a salon and the process of

getting a haircut.

1st Lt. Eddie Lipositz (USMC)

took time during his leave at

home from Afghanistan to visit

one of the classes at the McKin-

ley Avenue School. Students in

Kelly Bodziak’s third grade class

had written letters to Lt. Lipositz

and his men and he wanted to

personally thank them.

The students had a lot of ques-

tions for Lt. Lipositz and they

inquired about the individual

Marines that they wrote letters

to, asking specific questions

about their jobs, their families,

and their nicknames. Students

also asked where they sleep (on

cots in tents), if there are women

marines (not a lot, but they do

important jobs), and what is the

difference between the Army and

the Marines.

“When you are going to be

somewhere for a long time, you

use the Army,” explained Lt.

Lipositz. “But you know when

you have an emergency and you

call 911 to get help right away?

Well, when the country has an

emergency, the Marines are who

they call. The Marines are the

country’s emergency fighting

force.”

Classroom Close-up, NJ, will

re-air the segment highlighting

the Ocean Acres School's Pro-

ject: TEAM on April 21 and 27.

The 30 minute weekly show pro-

duced by the NJEA and NJTV

focuses on innovative projects

happening in New Jersey's pub-

lic schools. Classroom Close-up,

NJ can be found on NJTV

(locally on Comcast channel 23

or 800) on Sunday April 21 at

7:30AM, 12:30PM, and 7:30PM

and on Saturday, April 27 at

5:30AM.

Extraordinary Events

Stafford Township

School District

Mission Statement

Stafford Township School

District, together with parents/

guardians and community, shall

provide a secure, nurturing

environment that fosters a

positive self-image through

educational achievement and pro-

motes mastery of the Core Curric-

ulum Content Standards while en-

couraging students to become life-

long learners.

Artwork in our schools