District Holds SECOND ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY he Pascack Valley Regional ’s Second River Vale’s Maria Sommer hosted “WebQuests: Cyber TAnnual Interdistrict Professional Development Day Learning Made Easy.”Teachers were shown examples of focused on “The 21st Century Classroom: Instruc- motivational project sites in a variety of disciplines. Ms. tion To Meet Diverse Needs.” Sommer emphasized the importance of helping students do Teachers gathered at six “effective searches” when performing research on the web. separate locations to “It’s important to teach students how to sift through the choose from more than junk,” she said.“You have to locate appropriate resources, a dozen workshop prescreen them and build from there.” opportunities that Teachers looking for inspiration got it. In the Pas- were as fresh and cack Hills Regional High School current as today’s computer lab,Woodcliff homework assign- Lake’s Fred Maltzan ment. led a tour de force “This is instruc- of “Inspiration,” tion that teachers a powerful, can use in the class- user-friendly room tomorrow,” graphic or- said Barbara Pur- ganizing soft- cell of Woodliff ware applica- Lakes School tion. who along with “This is a colleague Bob- powerful bie Laureni pre- technological sented “More tool that en- Power To You!” hances both a hands-on, nuts organization and bolts primer and creativi- on the potential ty,” said Mr. of PowerPoint. Maltzan.“It Indeed, technology helps students was a major player put their thoughts

Hillsdale teacher Fran Powell guides teachers Catherine Forns (River Vale) and Signe Myren (Woodcliff L throughout the day. Lake) in creating video captions during videography workshop at George G. White Middle School. together page 3

Check Us Out Districts Initiate ON THE WEB Inside K-12 Math Study Page 4

Hillsdale Public Schools ...... www.hillsdaleschools.com “Share The ...... www.montvale.k12.nj.us Pascack Valley High School Regional . . .www.pascack.k12.nj.us Good News” A Day Of Growth River Vale Schools ...... www.rivervaleschools.com And Learning Page 2 Woodcliff Lake Public Schools ...... www.woodcliff-lake.com P ASCACK R EGIONAL S CHOOLS B ULLETIN W INTER 2003 2 Second Annual Regional Collaboration: A DAY OF GROWTH AND LEARNING “Share The n November, Pas- School is placing more students than ever before in top col- cack Valley Super- leges and that curriculum offerings at the school continue to I intendents, be expanded and enriched. Good News Board of Education A major issue on the agenda was communication. In the members and Business ensuing discussion, points were raised about the need to ” Administrators gathered make the public aware of the all the wonderful things hap- for the Second Annual pening within the schools, with an emphasis on student and Regional Collaboration in teacher achievement, creative faculty initiatives and the con- the Woodcliff School Media Center.The half-day workshop tinued growth and challenge of technology. was led by Marie Bilik and Kathy Sousa of the The Code of Ethics established by the New Jersey School Boards Association. Department of Education School Ethics Commission was It was a stimulating day of learning for a motivated group also discussed. Participants took a mock quiz to determine of professionals whose job it is to help others learn.A com- how much they knew about the various issues. pelling team attitude was present from the start. Early discus- “It was a very useful exercise,” claimed one Board mem- sion was driven by topics such as:“How we affect each ber.“It allowed us to identify the boundaries that exist other,”“How we can help each other,” and “How we can between what we can and cannot do as Board members.” remove barriers and learn from each other.” All recognized the significant and challenging nature of Participants also took the time to “Share the Good News” the issue, agreeing finally that “perception and good judg-

about a district other than their own. It was then learned that District Superintendents, Board members and Business Administrators go over Woodcliff Lake received a “Best Practice” designation from the issues during Regional Collaboration at Woodcliff Lake. the Department of Education. Kudos was given for the impressive television studio at Hillsdale and the fact that ment is the key.” If personal perception of a situation gives Superintendent Anthony DeNorchia was recently elected cause for concern, it’s best to “err on the side of caution” let- President of the New Jersey Association of School Admini- ting good judgment and experience dictate the proper strators.The completion of construction following Mont- course. vale’s successful bond referendum was applauded, along with Finally, Ms. Bilik did an outstanding job of facilitating dis- the appointment of Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan King cussion on the role of the Superintendent and the four major to chair the Interdistrict Administrative Council’s Articulation functions of a Board of Education. Committee. River Vale was complimented for its well “The exciting thing is that we all come together in a received Reading Day community event, and progress on relaxed atmosphere for open discussion and dialogue,” said construction following its successful bond referendum. River Vale Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez.“We share, we Finally, it was noted that Pascack Valley Regional High learn and we grow. Everyone profits from the experience.” P ASCACK R EGIONAL S CHOOLS B ULLETIN W INTER 2003

focus of “Project-based Learning on 3 District Holds SECOND ANNUAL the Web: Using Tele-collaborative PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY Strategies to Enhance Teaching and cover L Learning.”The popular work- visually, using graphics and icons.” shop was presented by It’s rare these days to enter a school Montvale’s Dr. Brian and not see the walls adorned with Chinni and Rich Panicucci digital photography. Hillsdale’s Fran of the Madison Institute. Powell and Ray Barker took teachers a In addition to cutting step further in “Effectively Integrating edge technology, the day Digital Photography and Videography offered the latest in educational in Classroom Instruction.” research, proven strategies and The presenters explored ways to uti- theories. lize the two mediums in planning and In “Differentiating Instruction to presenting information in any subject Maximize Learning,” teachers exam- Barbara Purcell (L) works with teacher Sharon area. ined a number of instructional plans Stoloff on PowerPoint during “More Power To “Technology is here to stay and any and models designed to serve the You” workshop at Dorchester Eementary School. way you use it in the classroom bene- Both teachers are from Woodcliff Lake. fits your students,” said Hillsdale teacher Heidi Markell who attended “I’ve learned things presented by Pete DeSisto of the Insti- the workshop.“It never fails to gener- today that I will tute for Cooperative Schools. ate excitement.” “Behavior depends on the teacher/ For advance PowerPoint users, Pas- bring back to my student relationship,” said Mr. DeSisto. cack Valley High School District Su- class immediately.” “While working to curtail inappropri- pervisor of Mathematics Judy Brendel ate behavior, a teacher must work to improve the quality of interaction with discussed ways to enhance presenta- Suzanne Pausz, Hillsdale tions through animation, slide transi- the student.” tions, imported sounds and pictures. The latest in collaborative or co- Those seeking “a day of number unique and diverse needs of individual teaching and its effectiveness as an in- crunching, visualization of information, students. class support model was the subject of and data sorting” got it from Woodcliff Technology and theory aside, one “Achieving Inclusive Practices Through Lake’s Laurence Chandonnet in “Grade element that never changes in the Collaborative Teaching,” held at Hills- Books Graphics and Beyond-Excel.” classroom is the need for teachers to dale’s George G.White Middle School. Rounding out the day’s technology, the maintain control and discipline. A huge Most teachers ended the long day “seamless integration of tele-collabora- audience was on hand for “Addressing eager and motivated. tive, web-based projects to meet the Non-Compliant Student Behavior “I’ve learned things today that I will needs of individual learners” was the Through Cooperative Discipline,” bring back to my class immediately,” said Suzanne Pausz of Hillsdale.“It’s wonderful to spend the day learning something new that’s certain to enhance your classroom.” “Days like this pro- vide an exceptional opportunity,” said Gene Cimis of Woodcliff Lake.“It’s a chance to try new things you would not normally devote the time to. I will defi- nitely be bringing this back with me.”

Presenter Pete DeSisto discusses Cooperative Discipline at Pascack Hills Regional High School. 4 P ASCACK R EGIONAL S CHOOLS B ULLETIN W INTER 2003 Elementary Schools JOIN ARTICULATION PROCESS The Interdistrict Articulation pro- gram will be conducting in-depth or the Pascack Regional School Committee has been added to the list studies of all K-12 content areas FDistricts, articulation means a of Interdistrict Articulation Commit- through the 2009 school year, begin- mutual interconnection of pro- tees.There are currently 14 such com- ning this year with mathematics. gram delivery among member districts. mittees covering all curriculum areas. According to Dr. King, the five dis- To work successfully, such articulation The new Principals Committee will trict Superintendents are working must be grounded in a policy of rou- have input into next year’s Professional together in a spirit of mutual coopera- tine evaluation and adjustment. Development Day, which will focus on tion and professional vision. One such adjustment has been the subject content. “It dawned on us that our articula- inclusion this year of elementary school “Our base is at the elementary level,” tion efforts require input and involve- teachers and administrators in the pro- said Montvale Superintendent and ment on the elementary level, as well cess. For the first time this year, ele- Chairperson of the Interdistrict Admini- as examination of all content areas,” she mentary teachers were invited to take strative Council Susan King.“We already said.“Our group has a great deal of part in the Regional School District’s know there’s a great deal of interest in resolve. No one hesitates to introduce Professional Development Day. In the articulation process and a strong new ideas, and more importantly to see addition, an Elementary Principals desire for involvement on that level.” that they are set in motion.”

good articulation among instructional strategies, tech- Districts Initiate nology, use of manipulatives and things of that nature.” K-12 MATH STUDY To that end a mathematics consulting firm will visit all elementary and middle schools.The firm will observe he Pascack Regional School classroom instruction, analyze curriculum and textbooks Districts wish to make certain and conduct interviews with teachers, administrators, par- T that students entering middle ents and students.The high school and its four sending dis- school and high school are on the tricts will receive a written report in the spring of 2003. same page in math.To accomplish this, the five regional After a careful study, accepted recommendations will be districts are conducting their first ever K-12 mathematics implemented during the current school year and part of study. the next. “When students arrive at the middle and high school “This gives us a wonderful opportunity to study, tighten levels it’s important that they share a common background and fine tune our program,” said Mr. Cohen.“It’s the kind in their math studies,” said Pascack Valley Regional High of thing a district does when it’s serious about providing School Director of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment students with the best chance for academic success.” Paul Cohen.“We want to assure that we’re maintaining

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