NUMBER 22
Like its namesake, Rev. Dr. Ercel F. Webb, the school stands on the belief of fairness, integrity and the desire to educate every child. “No Child Left Behind” was our educational goal long before it was a legislative act. Our primary goal at Webb Elementary is to instill in our children the love and appreciation for learning. By accomplishing this, we hope they become life-long learners and productive citizens. How do we achieve this goal? Webb Elementary has dedicated personnel and parents who devote their time and effort in providing an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. It is through their efforts that the belief that “good schools are good communities” exists.As we address the challenges of the 21st century, the utilization of modern technology has become a focus. The faculty feels confident that advances in technology will strengthen the children’s confidence to achieve by employing the resources and support to substantially improve basic skills, analytical thinking, the access to new information, and enhance what the children will learn in the content areas. We are utilizing Breakthrough to Literacy in kindergarten where tests results have shown that the students demonstrate improvement in early literacy skills. We have also implemented a program called Study Island for students in grades 3-5 and Waterford for some students in grades K-2. Children spend 45 minutes per week in the computer lab for reinforcement of skills in both language arts and math in preparation for the NJASK and Terranova. To ensure that parents are aware of their children’s progress, the program can be accessed from home and skill sheets prepared by the program based on student need are sent home for parent and child learning opportunities.
To embrace the metaphor of school as community, Webb elementary has become an inclusion school. Our special needs students have joined our regular education students in an atmosphere where tolerance and understanding are united in a rebirth of learning. The inclusion classes, led by capable educators, are guided by teacher and student-driven lessons which aligns the district’s Curriculum Guidelines with the NJCCCS.
In our quest to meet the academic needs of our students, we have in place other programs to help facilitate learning in the classrooms. Grades K-2 utilizes Everyday Math and grades 3-5 utilize LLteach, a manipulative based mathematics program. Each program incorporates a spiraling curriculum which focuses on higher order thinking in problem solving and is supported by our Math Coach.
The literacy initiative is inclusive of the Scott Foresman developmental reading program for grades K-3. The Balanced Blocks framework for grades 4 and 5 utilizes a variety of materials to support the elements of language arts instruction. Support is provided by the Literacy Coach and Reading Specialists. Reading Recovery Teachers and Teaching Assistants provide both one-to one tutoring as well as small group intervention programs to ensure that students are reading on grade level. We provide additional support to our students through after school test-taking program on NJASK as well as skills recovery through the Learn it, Rocket and American Tutor curriculum. In addition we have developed a Saturday NJASK skills program to further develop and sharpen test taking skills and strategies.
We have our monthly Parent Council Meetings whereby parents are kept informed of new developments in our school. We have incorporated a variety of program during the course of the school year to enhance parental involvement. Every year we have our Grandparents Day, Open School Day, Community Day and our Gospel Concert. In addition we have our yearly “Eagles Day”, whereby we thank parents and community members for adopting one of our classrooms. We continue to look forward to expanding our parent involvement to develop closer relationships between the home and the school so that parents and teachers can work together for the betterment of the children. Families bring with them a history of experiences that enrich our children.
The staff acknowledges and accepts the challenges before us. We are dedicated to developing and nurturing the maximum potential in each child. To this end, we have established a conducive learning environment where each student is provided with the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to become responsible and productive citizens-skilled in critical thinking and problem solving techniques, confident with self, comfortable with living and working with all people and willing to assist others in achieving the same success.
Ismael Aponte
201-915-6481