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Health & Fitness

Kids First Rolls On Part 2 Investing in the Classroom

There are various ways in which Kids First is attempting to correct the past when a majority funds went to the administration instead of being invested in the classroom and infrastructure. Interactive Smart Boards are now in every classroom. These allow teachers to visibly display subjects and lessons that are enhanced via internet downloads. The Smart Boards also interact with laptops that are provided to each child, another positive step for our students.

Mentors are now available for students in need. There is also an amazing interactive computer program for these kids. In the past teachers were forced to implement a one size fits all policy, but now the computer grades, tracks and learns at what speed the child is capable of and adjusts accordingly. If the child begins to progress faster the computer adjusts, the same if the lessons are too hard for the student at that point. In the end with an individualized program students should see greater achievement.

Utilizing Mac computers there is a state of the art media program for students interested in that genre. For aspiring hair salonists there is a class created for that. There is now a student run store giving future entrepreneurs a real world experience in all facets of operating a small business.

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New textbooks have been ordered for the first time in a decade- and no they were never “pawned”. The same with new and updated science kits. For too long Connor's School was starved of funds that went elsewhere. Under Kids First funds are now equally distributed to all schools. Connors also received the first infrastructure improvement – a new playground. The curriculum has also been revised and updated combined with published goals for further achievement.

When John Hopkins was eliminated because it did not comply with NJ BOE regs the Old Guard liars claimed that the gifted and talented program would be over. Of course once again they are wrong, because Hoboken has in Conjunction with EIRC (Educational Information and Gifted Information and Resource Center), R.O.G.A.T.E., which is a program that offers gifted sixth-grade through high school students a selection of activities to complement their ongoing educational plans including aptitude tests (SAT & ACT), Academic Interest Interest Lectures held on college campuses, preparation of original research based on a hypothesis, presentation of original research to their peers at year end expositions, and eligibility to receive awards/recognition for their academic achievements.

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SAT scores have been rising and there is little statistical difference in whatever public school (traditional or charter) you child attends. Test scores are improving for grade school students.

The theater program was also singled out by the Old Guard who claimed it was destroyed after the departure of Paula Olhaus. Under Danielle Miller it is back, as good as ever. Previously positions like outfits, lighting and carpentry were outsourced at the taxpayers expense. Now, many of these jobs are done in house by students teaching them valuable skills that they can employ as they begin their careers after school.

So remember on November 5th come out and support Kids First to keep the progress moving forward.

As a note to Red Wing Forever- Irene Soblov has three children. One attends Wallace, another Hi Tech which is a public magnet school that he wanted to attend and had the grades to do so. The third attends Hoboken High, which was your major complaint.


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