JULIA A. BARNES #12
In Julia A. Barnes, Public School Number 12, a commitment to high academic standards is evident in all classrooms and for all students. Julia A Barnes School is an elementary school comprised of grades Pre-K through Eight. The current student population is 426 which includes 65 Special Needs Students. The school has 25 Regular Ed, 3 Self-contained Special Needs classes, 2 Resource Rooms and Inclusion classes in every Grade PreK-8. PS# 12s’ instructional staff is highly qualified as mandated by NCLB. The instructional staff make up includes 24 General Ed Teachers, 4 Special Needs Teachers, 9 Inclusion Teachers 3 Teacher Assistants and 11 Para-Professionals. Instruction is also supported by Specialists in the areas of Physical Education, Art, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Literacy, Library Media, Technology, Inclusion, World Language, Reading Recovery and a Child Study Team. Students also receive specialized services in Speech, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Art Therapy and from a Clinical Social Worker. The school is a Universal Free School because 85% of the student population qualifies for free lunch.We are a fully inclusive school, where children with special needs are interwoven into our traditional classrooms. An inclusion teacher, trained in the special needs of these students, as well as pull-out resource teachers assist in this inclusion process. Special class programs and general education teachers, also, accommodate individual learning styles and assess and group students according to their individual needs. We also incorporate Cooperative Learning (Kagan) Strategies, and NJ Positive Behavior Support In School (PBSIS) Services school-wide to provide opportunities to meet the needs of every student in our care. The educational success of each student is our primary goal. The school’s curriculum has been aligned to the NJCCCS and the cross content workplace readiness skills to ensure that every child can be successful.
Julia A. Barnes School focuses on the principles of the Jersey City Whole School Reform Model. We believe that children learn by doing and we support a project-based learning environment that helps our students develop their meta-cognitive processes. A School Leadership Committee, School Data Team, a Positive Behavior Team, Student Council and Parents Council are in place to ensure that we carry out our motto "All Hands Working Together.” Julia A. Barnes School also offers a wide array of activities that enables students to participate not in academics only, but also in cultural and enrichment events throughout the year. The students at Julia A. Barnes participate in many essay contests, Science fairs, Math-a-thons, Spelling Bees, Academic Bowls, Reading Buddies Day, and student-centered assemblies have all contributed to an enriched partnership among students, staff, families and communities.
A comprehensive language arts curriculum develops the ability of our students to read and write with fluency while instilling in them a love of reading and writing. Our classes are fully involved in the Balanced Block Reading and Writing Program which includes guided reading and writing programs. Literacy programs such as 100 Book Challenge, RIGBY, Guided Reading, Breakthrough to Literacy (BTL) Making Meaning, Handwriting without Tears, Reading Recovery, Reading is Fundamental (RIF) are supplemented by the efforts of the Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach. Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) helps us to identify the reading levels of our students. The Jersey City Public School District Initiative of a Small Learning Community has been implemented in Grades 6-8. This Small Learning Community is built on the hopes that it will maximize students learning by using the cooperative model. In addition, the ratio of teachers to students is small enough, whereby individual students get extra support. Collaboration takes place with the district staff as well as the support staff within. General Ed and Special Needs teachers collaborate on students’ strengths and weaknesses and address these concerns using differentiated instruction and other various researched based instructional strategies.
Our Mathematics program in, grades K-2 learn with the Everyday Math Program and LL Teach in grades 3-8. Grades 7 and 8 also include pre-algebra and algebra instruction.
Supplemental Education Services are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the students who apply and qualify in all grades. This program is designed to provide additional tutoring services, in an effort to improve standardized test scores and close the achievement gap in all content areas. These services are provided by Learn-It, the Boys and Girls Club (SES) and the Jersey City Education Consortium. Other Extended Day Programs enable us to hone the skills of our students by providing after-school enrichment programs geared toward language arts and mathematics as well as NJ ASK Preparation.
Various student incentive programs such as "Honor Awards Assemblies", "100 Book Challenge Awards Assembly", "Honors Luncheon" and "School-wide Activity Days" were developed for the purpose of recognizing and promoting academic and social/emotional growth.
Our school's programs and activities have a clear instructional focus, high teacher expectations and a climate conducive to learning. Staff members give their time and talents to share their successful ideas and techniques with their colleagues. During common planning time, grade level and cross grade level meetings, teachers confer to determine progress of stated objectives, discuss pacing, time on task, analyze student performance and evaluate techniques. Through this process, we have been able to recognize the ability of our own staff members and improve the instruction offered to our students. Teachers present staff development in the areas of their expertise. Staff meetings are used as professional development opportunities. Workshops are presented on thematic planning across the content area, guided reading, process writing, NJ ASK test strategies, science across the curriculum, Kagan Structures, technology, character education and Inclusion. We have established a resource library for teachers to borrow materials.
Inclusive in the above, staff members participate in various committees designed to drive the school to success. These committees include: a Professional Development Team, a Data Assessment Team, a Positive Behavior Team and a School Literacy Team to address Professional Development activities throughout the year.
The integration of technology for more effective instruction is one of our objectives. Further plans include upgrading current computers and the continuous review and updating of all hardware and software for student and staff use. Staff continues to receive on-going training in using technology as a tool in the classroom.
Parents are actively involved in the daily activities of our school. They are always welcomed at Julia A. Barnes School. Many have become active volunteers in the classroom, and the lunch program. Parents/guardians, and community members have joined in our school's literacy efforts, by coming to the school and reading books to our students. Our Parents Council received a grant which has enabled them to set up a Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC) which allows parents to come in and use a computer to receive on-line resources for their children and assist them with resume writing and finding employment.
Our school frequently avails itself of the community's resources to enrich our curriculum. Representatives from the Jersey City Fire Department, Recycling Department and AAA address safety issues during our assembly programs. Our Middle School students are actively involved in creating a healthy school climate through programs such as Hudson County REBEL, an anti-smoking program and Peer Leaders/Builder's Club. To further promote Character Education throughout our school, two of our middle school teachers developed a Renaissance Program. This program provides mentoring workshops and activities on Saturdays that help build character and self-esteem in our male students. Our College Prep program is designed to ensure that our students have the academic and financial tools necessary to attend college. We also have developed partnerships with Lincoln High School and the Rotary Club to provide mentorship for our middle school students.
At Julia A. Barnes School, realizing the need for continued success, we plan to continue the process of identifying, through varied assessments, program strengths and instructional needs in order to help our students continue to achieve proficiency levels.
Paulette Bailey
Assistant Principal
Principal:
Annie Graham
201-915-6420