National Park School

NATIONAL PARK SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

At National Park School students will reach their maximum potential academically, physically, emotionally and socially. National Park students are 21st century learners, able to problem-solve and apply technology skills to process their own ideas. The students of National Park School will exhibit individual growth as indicated on standardized grade level assessments and classroom performance. Students will demonstrate personal responsibility by being prepared for class, treating others with respect, arriving on time with required materials, completing homework and actively participating in class discussions and activities. National Park students will be prepared for an ever-changing, global society.

A NOTE FROM MRS. BITTNER

Hello! My name is Mrs. Bittner and I am proud to be the principal at National Park Elementary School where we are committed to excellence. Coming from a long line of educators, I knew at an early age that I wanted to be a teacher. I attended Houghton College where I majored in Elementary Education and Spanish. My teaching career began as a third and fourth grade multiage teacher at Evergreen Avenue School in Woodbury, NJ where I taught for eight years. While there I earned my Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist through Rowan University as well as my principal certification at Drexel University. For two and a half years I was the principal at Upper Township Primary School in Marmora, NJ before joining National Park. I am thrilled to be a part of the National Park School Family. As an educator I believe in creating an environment in which all students find success. Setting clear, realistic expectations allows students to thrive socially, emotionally and academically. I believe in challenging all students to reach their fullest potential and empowering them to take ownership of their education. I believe that the staff at National Park Elementary School is incredibly capable of creating a learning environment that exceeds expectations! Any spare time outside of school is spent with my family, Tyler age 7, Logan age 4 and my husband Michael. We spend our time together at soccer or t-ball practice, cub scout meetings and at Great Adventure. I am proud to be the mom and wife of a fantastic family!

ABOUT NATIONAL PARK SCHOOL

National Park School is a vibrant educational environment where teachers, students, family and community members work together to promote a love of learning. Comprised of approximately 50 staff members and 300 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, the school is located in National Park, a small town along the Delaware River. Founded on rich history, National Park School is committed to excellence in education. The staff is dedicated to providing students with engaging, individualized learning experiences based on New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Instructional Initiatives: The National Park School curriculum has been modeled after the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS). Our Language Arts Program places an emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and listening experiences through an integrated instructional framework. Guided reading, Shared Reading and Writers Workshop characterize our literacy approach. Every Day Math, our mathematics program, emphasizes real world applications of mathematics as fundamental principles embedded in daily instruction from one academic year to another. In addition, we are proud to offer comprehensive science and social studies programs along with a World Language experience for all elementary students. Through differentiated instruction, we strive to meet the individual academic and social needs of all students. Our school utilizes multiple performance measures to monitor student progress such as portfolios, journals, rubrics, project-based activities and authentic assessments, all aligned to the NJCCCS. By way of leveled instruction, our teachers and support staff provide learning opportunities customized to meet each student’s needs.

Fine Arts at their Finest: In addressing the needs of the whole child, National Park School offers a broad spectrum of programs that are designed to compliment the learning experience. Our Physical Education/Health Program emphasizes cooperation and offers students opportunities for collaboration and teamwork. Developing lifelong healthy behaviors in our children is the primary goal of our health program with focus on the promotion of healthy eating habits and the importance of an active lifestyle. Our Visual and Performing Arts areas afford our students with multiple opportunities to excel in the areas of art and music. Many students take part in instrumental music lessons that are offered to all students in fourth through sixth grades. Both the instrumental and vocal programs are exciting and integral parts of our daily instruction. We are proud to present such artistic and individualized experiences to all of our students. The Art Program exposes students to a wide range of techniques and mediums to enhance their creativity and appreciation of the arts. Projects range from sculptures to paintings to digital stories as students are provided with opportunities to expand their artistic aptitude. Our Instructional Media Center allows our students to work with ever-expanding resources necessary when completing research and investigating various works of fact and fiction.

Character Counts: Our “Character Counts” Education Program is infused throughout all aspects of the school environment. Throughout the school year students are taught the importance of being Ready to Learn, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Citizenship, Caring and Trustworthiness. Students exhibiting model behavior are recognized at “Character Counts” assemblies. This public recognition promotes the character traits that define our students as productive members of their global society.

Welcome to the 21st Century: We will continue to enhance our technological capabilities as we embrace the 21^st Century, both to improve instruction as well as to increase home-school communication. Designed to inform, our website allows users to easily retrieve time-sensitive information regarding all school initiatives and locate important information about the district. Individual teacher websites allow families to easily access information specific to their child’s classroom. Parents with students in grades three through six are provided with access to Grade Portal, an online system in which parents are able to monitor their child’s academic progress. At National Park School we are committed to increasing use of technology to enhance academics as well as communication. In addition to technology’s infusion into daily classroom instruction, students participate in a Technology class that provides them with a greater understanding of the many ways computers can be utilized. Students receive training in programs such as Excel, PowerPoint and Word documents, applying their learning through authentic computer based projects.

A Family Affair: The most important relationships in a child’s life begin with the family. At National Park School, we rely on the support of our families to partner with our staff in promoting the importance of education. From parent-teacher conferences, to concerts and special programs that are offered in our school, parent participation is extremely important to us and vital to our success. Many family members regularly volunteer their time to assist in creating a positive school environment. One of our continuing goals is to enhance our communication links between the school and families in order to increase student success. National Park School benefits from an active Home and School Association (HASA). Comprised of many dedicated parent volunteers, HASA is committed to providing students with opportunities for social engagement as well as dedicating extensive energy to fundraising for school needs. HASA had contributed a substantial portion of funds to provide our students with educational field trips throughout the Garden State. We are grateful for such an involved group of parents!

Patriot Pride: National Park School is an exceptional educational environment thanks to the devoted staff. We take great pride in creating a safe and secure atmosphere in which students will thrive socially and academically. We are dedicated to providing students with educational experiences that enable them to develop into productive citizens.