At the school board’s next meeting on Tuesday, April 17, the curriculum committee will recommend the approval of overnight field trips for students from High School South and Community Middle School to represent New Jersey at the Science Olympiad National Tournament in Orlando, Florida, from May 16 through 20. Each team placed first in the state Science Olympiad in March. South came in first, ahead of 26 other participating schools, with High School North finishing second.
The cost of the students’ trips was discussed at the curriculum committee meeting on April 3, as members of the board were unclear why the price was higher for middle schoolers than for high schoolers. Smith explained that the parents of the middle school students asked that admission for one Orlando-area theme park attraction be built into the price for the trip.
“The parents wanted it and they’re paying, so it’s not a bad thing,” said board member Rachelle Feldman Hurwitz.
But Kaye said “I think it’s outrageous that we’re taking another day out of instruction and people asked us to take their children to a theme park,” he said.
Smith clarified that the park visit will be after the competition hours and no extra day was added to the trip. The expected cost of the theme park would increase prices by $180 per student. The middle school students also require extra buses to carry equipment for the science competition.
Also on April 17 a STARTALK federal grant application will be announced. The STARTALK program for teachers is a component from the National Language Initiative, which was designed to build interest in languages such as Chinese, Hindi, Farsi, and Swahili.
#b#Internet Safety#/b#
With social media, cyberbullying, and child safety in the virtual world coming to the forefront of public concerns in recent years the WW-P school district has taken a proactive measure to combat dangerous or illegal online activity.
On Wednesday, April 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. a panel of computer experts from the school district as well as local law enforcement agencies will speak at High School North in the upper dining hall. The event, titled “Computer Use and Internet Safety,” is for parents and guardians of children in all grades. Prior registration is required. To register E-mail parentlink@wwp.org or call 609-716-5000, ext. 5523, and leave a message.
