Programs & Services
Table of Contents (Programs & Services)
A Continuum of Services
Food Services
Proud Patriot PTO
Additional Family Resources
A Continuum of Services
Toms River Regional Schools is committed to nurturing every student’s unique talents, interests, and abilities. In order to fulfill our mission, our staff members get to know students both academically and personally, while integrating their interests into learning experiences within and beyond our classrooms. Staff members utilize formal and informal assessment data to plan meaningful learning activities that allow our students to reach beyond their current level of understanding, which creates a strong academic foundation while also fostering the development of self-confidence in our learners. Our comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of our diverse learners allows us to maximize the academic, social, and emotional growth of each student as they participate in appropriate academic challenges in our classrooms.
BASIC SKILLS
For students in need of remediation related to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, our elementary curriculum model contains suggestions for academic support and differentiation in all content areas.
Through the evaluation of multiple data points, students may qualify to receive targeted, explicit instruction in the essential, research-based components of reading: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. In an effort to ensure that our youngest have appropriate language comprehension and word recognition skills as they become fluent readers, students in grades 1-3 receive approximately 3-4 intervention periods per week. In grades 4 and 5, students receive approximately 1-2 intervention periods per week. Using a systematic, repetitive, multi-sensory instructional approach, our staff works with students in small groups to develop deeper reading and comprehension skills. Ongoing progress monitoring using student reading levels and the CORE Phonics Survey ensures that students are maximizing growth and literacy achievement.
SCHOOL (GUIDANCE) COUNSELING -- Social Emotional Learning
Toms River Regional Schools’ students will develop self-awareness and a strong social network to build a positive self-image, enabling them to make good choices and continue to develop coping skills and strategies to increase resiliency. Our community is committed to providing opportunities and resources in pursuit of lifelong learning.
Guidance intervention consists of check-ins, group and individual sessions, and collaboration with the community and staff to ensure all students feel safe in their environment. The counselor's role is to work with children on an individual basis or in small group sessions, and consult with teachers, parents and school administration. The counselor helps children with many difficulties and adjustments. Children may be referred to the counselor by a teacher, the school administration, the child's parents or guardian, or by a self- referral. If it is felt that the counseling will require more than one session, the counselor will request that the parents or guardian sign a consent form for the counselor to continue seeing the child.
Social emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for being a healthy adult. This includes problem-solving skills, communication and understanding, as well as teaching kids to embrace diversity and build healthy relationships that will last well into adulthood. These tools will help guide our students to manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions. Guidance intervention consists of check-ins, group and individual sessions, and collaboration with the community and staff to ensure all students feel safe in their environment.
GIFTED & TALENTED
For students that demonstrate specific academic strengths, our elementary curriculum model contains enrichment suggestions and increasingly complex questions and activities that are utilized by our faculty members to provide students with differentiated learning opportunities in all content areas.
Bright learners thrive in the differentiated classroom, whereas truly gifted learners, who make up about 5% of the school population, may require additional modifications to their academic program to meet their unique needs. For these learners, a variety of K-5 programs aligned to the National Association for Gifted Children programming standards enable students to apply and accelerate their skill set through experiences beyond the general education classroom in the areas of mathematics, English language arts, research and exploration, and critical thinking skills.
INTERVENTION & REFERRAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
The Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Committee provides academic and/or behavioral assistance to individual students through a problem-solving group that consists of social workers, Board Certified Behavior Analysis, teachers, counselors and administrators. Multi-tiered systems of supports provide a framework of interventions that allow students to progress towards individualized goals. Families are invited to become active members of the committee as plans are developed and progress monitoring is reviewed. Students are encouraged to take steps in becoming independent learners through using goal sheets to complete classroom tasks. School resources such as counseling and other related services will also be provided if necessary.
SCHOOL NURSING SERVICES (Administering Medication)
Pursuant to New Jersey State Law, all medications given to students can only be administered by a certified school nurse or physician. The administration of medications to students in the Toms River Regional Schools will be conducted under these specific rules:
1. No medication, prescription or nonprescription (i.e. Aspirin, Tylenol, eye drops, etc.), will be given to a student by the school nurse unless it is received in the original container and accompanied by a written physician and parental/guardian request which MUST include:
Name of student
Grade
Name of teacher
Name of physician
Name and dosage of medication
Time medication needs to be administered
Duration of use
Date and signature of parent
Date and signature of physician
Any Known medication allergies
2. All medications are to be held in the school nurse’s office, with the parent/guardian assuming the responsibility for delivering and picking up unused amounts when no longer needed.
3. Prescription medication must be in the original pharmacy-labeled container.
4. If a student needs an Inhaler the Asthma Treatment Plan must be completed by your pediatrician.
For more information on Health Services & Requirements, visit: www.trschools.com/parents/Health
CHILD STUDY TEAM (Special Education)
Office of Special Education Mission Statement: To provide specialized and individualized education to all students in the least restrictive environments
Toms River Regional School District collaborates with New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE) on best practices in Special Education. Child Study Teams evaluate students’ needs and prepare Individualized Education Plans to include special education students in the least restrictive environment. Teams tailor accommodations, modifications and services to meet the needs of the student. Special Education Teachers and Related Service providers individualize skills through specialized instruction and multi-sensory strategies. Special programs include supplemental curriculum geared toward student growth and success with measurable data. The special education department includes families in IEP development and services. Family networking is provided through Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG). For more information on SEPAG, visit: www.trschools.com/parents/SEPAG
**RELATED SERVICES
Candidates for school based related services would be determined after a formal evaluation, which can be recommended following a routine screening or parent referral. School based therapy is designed around providing students access to their education and navigating the school environment.
Food Services (Cafeteria)
All students are scheduled for a 35-minute lunch and recess period daily.
Federal lunch waivers which entitled all students to free breakfast and lunch have expired as of June 30, 2022. All families must fill out a federal lunch application either on www.schoolcafe.com or by paper application to be considered for free or reduced breakfast/lunch. If you need assistance in completing a free and reduced lunch application, please call: 732.505.5500 x500011.
Elementary School has in place a computerized lunch payment program for any ala carte purchases. Every child has a student ID card that is used when payment is rendered. Parents may send cash into school with their child to be added to the lunch account, or cash may be sent in daily to purchase any ala carte items. When cash is sent into school, it is added to the account, and change is not sent home with the student. Please make sure any monies sent are in an envelope with the student’s first and last name on it. You may also pre-pay accounts using the SchoolCafe system. To set up a SchoolCafe account, visit www.schoolcafe.com. This makes it possible for your child’s ID number to act as a debit card for their purchase. Students may not go into a negative balance for any ala carte purchase.
For more information regarding our Food Services Department, please visit: www.trschools.com/parents/FoodServices
Proud Patriot PTO
PTO stands for Parent Teacher Organization. The PTO consists of parents and teachers working together to support and enrich all students. The objective of the PTO is to provide Cedar Grove Elementary with funds, programs, resources and services that will maximize the education of every child and benefit the school.
Every Cedar Grove parent, teacher and staff member is invited to join the PTO.
To learn more about out PTO, including membership and fundraisers, please visit: http://www.cedargroveptotomsriver.com/
Additional Family Resources
Click on the live links for more information on the following:
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County: Youth Counseling Program
Toms River Regional School -- Mental Health Resources Page
Toms River Food Pantries
Ocean ResourceNet (Providing a wide range of information about support, resources, and services for families in Ocean County, New Jersey.)
Toms River Regional Schools Anti-Bullying Resources