School No. Four is one of eight elementary schools in Linden, New Jersey and is strongly committed to providing an exceptional educational opportunity for students in pre-kindergarten through grade four. School No. Four provides a nurturing and challenging environment for all students. More than 50 staff members comprise this outstanding professional learning community which strives daily to equip students with the skills and mindset necessary to allow for the achievement of individual goals.  Students are presented with challenges in the area of critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Teachers of Elementary School No. Four have successfully created rich learning environments within their classrooms, with instruction carefully aligned to the New Jersey State Core Curriculum Content Standards.  Instruction is differentiated and offers students a myriad of learning opportunities, reflective of multiple intelligences and varied learning styles.

 School No. Four’s language arts program is designed to provide students with meaningful learning experiences that will lead them to be lifelong readers through a balanced literacy philosophy. This program encompasses the five communicative arts: reading, writing, speaking, viewing and listening, in an interactive manner. Students develop and actively use literacy skills to construct meaning from the content, synthesize information and transfer knowledge.  In order to further increase language arts literacy and promote good reading habits, both at school and in the home, our district has adopted the 100 Book Challenge program.  Through this incentive and others, students are introduced to reading as a life style, partnered with books aligned with their individual reading ability.  As a framework for teaching writing, School No. Four and the Linden school district have adopted the Writer’s Workshop model where students learn the craft of writing through practice, conferring, and the study of mentor texts.  Writer’s Workshop offers rigorous and explicit instruction in writing across many genres with the ultimate goal of developing life-long writers.  Students’ reading instruction is specific and reflective of individual needs and learning styles.  Teachers provide flexible grouping for students to address specific reading needs, strengths and grade level objectives.

The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards have been implemented throughout all curricula. Our math curriculum uses the Everyday Math series. The philosophy of this series is based on real-life, hands-on problem-solving and a spiral approach to the sequencing of skills. The mathematical content in this program is taught in a repeated fashion, first with informal exposure and then through more formal and directed instruction; in this manner, students spiral through hands-on and engaging lessons throughout the grade levels, gaining deeper and true understanding of mathematical concepts and reasoning. Everyday Mathematics relies on a number of instructional strategies that ensure all students achieve success.  The design of Everyday Mathematics allows students to gain a more genuine understanding of mathematical concepts, a much more solid mathematical foundation, and exposure to the entire scope of mathematics each year.  Parents are an integral part of the success of our mathematics program and support instruction at home through the Home Links component and participation in a variety of games and activities to help children develop skill mastery.  Again, instruction in mathematics, as in language arts, is differentiated.  Students requiring extra support will receive targeted instruction by the classroom teacher or a Basic Skills instructor.  These support teachers work closely with the classroom teacher to make sure that each child receives the scaffolding necessary to achieve mastery of skills and concepts.  Additionally, students meeting specific guidelines are entitled to outside tutoring, while speech, resource, and other special education services are available to students during the school day according to need.

Science instruction at School No. Four is constructive and hands-on.  Teachers and students do science together when they open each unit’s FOSS kit, engaging in real experiences that command critical thinking and lead to a deeper understanding of the natural world. To further enhance our curriculum, students take field trips to places such as Sandy Hook, The Marine Science Consortium, and Trailside Museum.  School No. Four is proud to have been selected to partner with the Merck Academy for Leadership in Science Instruction.

School No. Four has three full day Pre-Kindergarten classrooms.  These rooms are vibrant learning environments, where students learn through play and teachers employ the Tools of the Mind program, strongly based on Vygotsky’s research and philosophy. Our developmentally appropriate Pre-Kindergarten classrooms offer a variety of learning opportunities, strongly reliant on play and hands-on exploration. Young children confidently test new knowledge in a relaxed, nurturing atmosphere, relate intuitively to existing knowledge, and store that information for future use. Curriculum goals are developmentally appropriate and help prepare even our youngest students to be successful members of our learning community.

Additionally, School No. Four strives to enrich students through our Music, Art, Physical Education, Library, Technology and World Language programs.  We are proud of our continued emphasis on Character Education, integral to School Four’s vision for developing excellence.  At School Four, we educate the whole child and we are committed to providing the support necessary to ensure personal growth.  Towards that end, School No. Four offers numerous parent workshops, community events, and welcomes back the NJ After 3 “Extended Day” program. School No. Four is committed to educational excellence in every facet.  We constantly strive to meet the Core Curriculum Content Standards as measured in the NJ ASK 3-4.  Teachers continually endeavor to grow in their professional knowledge and expertise.  With the help of school based instructional leaders, in the form of mathematics and literacy coaches, as well as district science specialists, a Pre-K master teacher, and numerous outside consultants, School Four staff participates regularly in study group sessions, data and research analysis, and varied other professional growth opportunities.  Our instructional standard is strictly aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards which mark with precision the results expected of all students.  At School No. Four, we believe that every child can learn.  Our highly qualified and dedicated staff works diligently to ensure that academic goals are achieved and students meet and exceed educational standards.

School No. Four is a school of which our constituents may be proud.  With the support and commitment of all stakeholders, inclusive of parents, guardians and the community in general, School No. Four continues to set the set the standard for educational excellence.

                Mr. Anthony W. Cataline
                Principal School No. 4
                acataline@linden.k12.nj.us

 

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