Principally Speaking
BRIGANTINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The Brigantine Elementary School services a multicultural enrollment of 500
students in preschool through grade four. The Mission Statement of our District
that was developed by the Strategic Planning Committee reads, ¿The Mission of
the Brigantine Elementary School is the development of productive, contributing
citizens who will be prepared to take their places in society with the skills
and knowledge necessary to nurture, perpetuate, and support the principles of
American Democracy.¿ In fulfilling this Mission, the school continued in 2007 to
earn state and national educational honors for model programs and student
achievement.
A major goal of the school's mission is to infuse character education into the
curriculum to help children respect themselves and others. In 2007, the school
programs received two more national and two state awards for exemplary programs
in character education. In 2006, these same programs were selected by the Boyer
Foundation as the #1 Best Practice in the United States. The award carried a
$10,000.00 grant. Additionally, the school's character education program was the
feature article in the 2006 August/September edition of the national Teaching
K-8 Magazine.
In 2007, our fourth grade studen's Quilt of Character won first place in New
Jersey in a contest sponsored by Mission: Kindness International, Inc. The
Brigantine Elementary School also was named the 2006 Kindest School in New
Jersey for the fourth time by Mission: Kindness International, Inc. The school's
"Kindness is Contagious" program was previously named a New Jersey Best Practice
for character education and citizenship in 2004. We believe that high academic
standards and ethical standards are inseparably connected.
Our students continue to do well academically. On the third and fourth grade
Mathematics section of the New Jersey ASK 4 Test, 90.1% of all students tested
were proficient with 28.5% in the advanced proficient category. In Language
Literacy, 88.4% scored in the proficient category. On the Science ASK 4 Test,
95.9% of students were proficient with 52.6% scoring in the advanced proficient
category.
One of the performance objectives for our students in 2007 was the promotion of
healthy lifestyles. The school's G.Y.M.-Get Yourself Moving program earned the
school the title of the 2007 Healthiest School in Atlantic County and a
$5,000.00 grant in a contest sponsored by AtlantiCare. The program also received
a 2006 New Jersey Best Practice award in the category of Health and Physical
Education. This program is a multi-dimensional program of health, nutrition, and
exercise aimed at combating childhood obesity, increasing children's desire to
exercise and live healthy lifestyles. A first grade student also won $5,000.00
for the purchase of physical education equipment in a 2007 national contest
promoting play and exercise.
The school has developed a program called A Multicultural, Cross-Curricular
Approach to Arts Education which is a multilayered academic practice teaching
cultural understanding and acceptance through the areas of art, music, physical
education, language, library, and technology. Children in grades K-4 are exposed
to multicultural experiences through year-long curriculum units per geographical
location, immersed in history, culture, high academic standards, and ethical
issues.
The Multicultural program is concluded each year with an enormous event called
Arts Night where accomplishments are showcased. As this event is a colossal task
(approximately 5,000 pieces of artwork are displayed, over 200 children perform
in costume, and over 1500 friends and family attend), more than 200 community
volunteers put it together. The program has earned two New Jersey Best Practice
awards. In 2007, the school partnered with the International House of Blues to
fund an artist-in-residence to support the arts programs.
In 2007, our students won third place in New Jersey in a contest sponsored by
NJEA/Radio Disney for the number of books read per child. The school placed
first in 2006.
The Student Council initiated a successful school-wide recycling program in
cooperation with the Atlantic County Utility Authority. The project earned the
school the 2007 Glitter Award presented by the New Jersey Clean Communities
Council. The Student Council also initiated many charitable endeavors including
raising funds for many charities including, Jean Webster's Kitchen and Mission:
Kindness International, Inc.
The school also prides itself on its Intergenerational Program that helps
develop kindness and respect for grandparents and senior citizens. In 2007, our
students captured many awards in Atlantic County out of 1,700 entrants from 20
schools in the Grandparents Day Contest in the categories of art, essays,
photos, songwriting, and poetry.
The School continues to be a leader in technology. Through the Brigantine
Elementary School Television [BEST] programs, students write, direct, and air
daily telecasts to every classroom in the school producing outstanding
informational and educational programs for our student body.
The administration and staff thank our children, parents, and members of the
community for their exceptional involvement and support in helping our school
earn state and national honors.
Contact Person: Donald A. Marrandino
Email: dmarrandino@mail.brigantine.atlnet.org
Donald Marrandino
609-264-9501
.