Anna Rudowsky

Principal's Message

WELCOME TO DANIEL WEBSTER SCHOOL!

Located at 2700 Palisade Avenue in Weehawken, NJ, Webster School services the pre-kindergarten to second grade students of the Weehawken Township School District in a safe, cheerful, and friendly atmosphere. Our full-day pre-kindergarten program fosters the academic, social and emotional development of our youngest students. In kindergarten, first grade and second grade, we build further upon the foundations set by the pre-K classes.

In grades K-2, we have adopted a new reading program in September 2015, called Journeys, published by Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace. The series integrates the Common Core standards and combines a strong phonics-based program with interesting fiction and non-fiction in helping our youngest students learn to read and develop the literacy skills they’ll need as they move through the grades. Teachers use interest and skill based centers to supplement and support instruction and expand the reading skills into the content areas. During “center time,” students can create art projects, work with computer software, read interesting stories, listen to stories or music and write in journals, to name just a few activities.

We are currently adopting Writer's Workshop by Teachers' College in our K-2 classes as our writing instruction platform. Student have writing portfolios we share at afternoon teas to our parents.

This year, kindergarten centers will be expanded and become more center-based, and experiential learning will be emphasized.

We also use the series EnVision Math, by Pearson, as a starting point for our math instruction. Teachers use workbooks as well as manipulatives and other techniques to help students master math skills in each grade. We also use a differentiated web-based platform called ST Math.

The Pre-K program uses a research-based, state-endorsed curriculum published by Teaching Strategies, Corp. called the Creative Curriculum. It is center-based and child-directed, allowing children to learn to make choices as they explore and study many different subjects. We’ve also adopted the assessment piece of the Creative Curriculum, which provides for progress reports and portfolios as ways to let parents better know what their child has been learning.

We’re understandably proud of our technology program. Each classroom is equipped with at least three computers in a cluster, all with broadband internet access. Teachers and students can use a variety of grade-level, subject-specific software, tightly integrated into the curriculum, to help students reinforce existing skills, learn new ones, or just have some fun with words or numbers. Each teacher has established a web site for his or her class on the Internet, where parents can get information about classes and assignments, visit educational links, or email the teacher. In addition, each floor has 2 ipad carts containing approximately 30 ipads for students to use. Our media center has both an iPad cart and chromebook touch cart for daily use during library classes. Students will be instructed how to code and develop digital citizenship skills.

With help and support from our Parent Teacher Association, every class has interactive projectors in our classrooms. Teachers in all 20 classrooms in grades PK-2, our art room, media center, academic support room, and ESL room have daily access to the Internet and web-based programs for use with their children. In addition, the district has seven iPad carts, each holding 30 iPads, for classroom use. iPads are also in use in our English as a Second Language and Academic Support programs.

Special subjects have equally strong and creative curricula, and creative expression is encouraged in such classes as music, art, and physical education. Our health and library services are second to none, with a full-time nurse and media specialist on staff. A certified Spanish teacher will conduct classes in Spanish for all PreK-2 students.

Students also venture beyond the walls of the classroom in carefully planned assembly programs and field trips, many of which are reflective of seasonal activities and are planned with the help of an involved and supportive Parent Teachers Association (PTA).

Besides holidays, patriotic occasions, and other well-known celebrations, students and teachers also acknowledge and celebrate events like the 100th day of school, Read Across America, School Pride Day, Math Night and our very popular Book Fair. Each grade level also prepares and presents a performance of some kind during the school year for the entire school community.

Don’t forget to check out our calendar to find out what we’re doing next! I’m always pleased to show visitors around our school – if you’d like to visit, give me a call at 201-422-6150 or email arudowsk@weehawken.k12.nj.us