Congratulations to Stockton Elementary School, a 2012 National School of Character! Stockton is Cherry Hill's first elementary school to be selected for this national recognition from the Character Education Partnership (CEP).  National Schools of Character demonstrate through a rigorous evaluation process that their focus on character development has had a positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior, and school climate. CEP will honor Stockton and the other 2012 National Schools of Character at the National Forum on Character Education on November 1-3 in Washington, DC.  Stockton joins Rosa International Middle School (2008) and Carusi Middle School (2011) in achieving this designation. Congratulations to the Stockton staff, students, parents, and community!

Volley for Support scores again!  Congratulations to Sharp Elementary School, first place winners in this year’s Volley for Support!  The event raised about $16,000 for the Miracle Field at Challenge Grove Park, which is being built by “Build Jake’s Place.” Carusi Middle School took second place and Cherry Hill High School East captured third.  Congratulations also to Mann Elementary School, winners of this year’s Spirit Award. This was the eighth year for Volley for Support, which now has topped $100,000 in fundraising for various worthy causes.  Thanks to Steve and Kim Redfearn and their Volley for Support committee for another great tournament. Click HERE for more pics.

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Click HERE for a message from Dr. Reusche and BOE President Seth Klukoff.

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STATEMENT FROM THE BOE PRESIDENT AND SUPERINTENDENT (April 27, 2012) ... In light of the continuing concern and media coverage of the situation that took place at Horace Mann Elementary School, the Cherry Hill Board of Education and Administration would like to make the following statement:

The Board of Education and Administration deeply regret the actions that took place in the classroom at Horace Mann Elementary. First and foremost, we share the dismay and concern expressed by members of our community. What happened in the classroom is not excusable and should not have happened. We do not condone this type of behavior in any form, in any place, by any person associated with our District. Following a complete investigation of the matter, which we must stress is continuing, we will be introspective and determine what we can learn from this incident.

At this time, as the result of the additional media attention given to this matter, some of it inaccurate, we would like to emphasize the following facts:

• The Administration, with the assistance of counsel, is continuing to investigate what occurred in the classroom in question.  Since the evidence presented is audio only, it is imperative that the improper conduct identified on the recording is correctly identified to the person(s) who committed the conduct.
• While our investigation continues, all individuals working in the classroom on the date in question have been either placed on leave to minimize disruption to our schools, or no longer work for the District.
• New Jersey law provides protection to tenured employees against immediate dismissal.

With respect to the investigation, we have done, and will continue to do, what we believe is right, legal and fair to all parties. While we understand the public’s desire for more information and action, we hope as well that you will understand we are legally constrained in the amount of information we can release and any immediate action we can take.

In addition, we want to be clear that the Board has the utmost faith in the District's Administration, faculty and staff, and that on a daily basis they always have the best interests of our students at heart. While we acknowledge there is always room for improvement in everything we do, we believe this regrettable incident is an anomaly, and we wholeheartedly support the work our teachers and educational aides do every day.

We also believe it is essential that, as we move forward, we explore means to strengthen the community’s trust in the school district. The students, parents, teachers and staff who make Cherry Hill such a high quality school district deserve nothing less.

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Are you interested in running for the Cherry Hill Board of Education?  Cherry Hill voters will elect three Board of Education members on Tuesday, November 6; nomination petitions are available on the Camden County website (click HERE) and must be returned to the County Clerk’s office by 4 pm on Tuesday, June 5. The New Jersey School Boards Association provides additional information on becoming a school board member – including legal requirements, an overview of responsibilities, and frequently asked questions.  Click HERE for NJSBA’s School Board Candidates’ Kit.

The Cherry Hill School District is proud to recognize the 12 Cherry Hill High School East seniors who have been named Finalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition! They are: Michael Berkowitz, Lily Campbell, Winnie Cheng, Iryna Hrubiy, Emily Hsu, Jasmine Hwang, Edward Lai, Yunfei Liu, Andrew Qian, Akshay Subramaniam, Tommy Tang, and Zhongxia Zhao.  The selection of some 8,400 Merit Scholarship winners from approximately 15,000 finalists nationwide is in progress. Announcements of Merit Scholar designees will be made this spring and summer. Good luck!

SCOPE presents "Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Teen Depression," a presentation for adults on Thursday, May 31, from 7-8:30 pm at the Cherry Hill Public Library. Click HERE for a flyer with details.

The Cherry Hill School District has been selected to participate in the NJ Sustainable Schools Project, a three-year research project designed to determine how sustainability impacts schools both financially and academically.  The project is a collaboration among K-12 schools, education organizations, green industry experts, and other groups.  This summer, members of the district’s newly formed Green Team will attend the Green Schools Leadership Institute in North Brunswick.  The team will develop a green mission statement, green strategic plan, measurable objectives, action steps, and lesson plans, and will also identify resources necessary to implement the plan.  Team members will also meet and interact with other school teams, green industry professionals, and government and non-formal educational partners.  Thanks to Sustainable Cherry Hill Executive Director Lori Braunstein for her guidance and leadership in the application process for the NJ Sustainable Schools Project. Stay tuned for more details!

High School Schedule Redesign… Click HERE to view the presentation on the high school schedule redesign and HERE for an FAQ that compiles the questions presented at recent meetings (along with the responses, of course).  The presentation to parents from Wednesday, December 7 is being rebroadcast on CHPS TV (Channel 19 on Comcast/Channel 24 on Verizon) at the following times: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 6 pm; Friday and Sunday at 5 pm; and Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm.

Support for Families from the NJDOE…Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf writes: "As parents or guardians, you want nothing more than an excellent education for your children. At the NJ Department of Education, we want nothing more than to help you achieve this!  The NJ DOE has created a family-focused web site at www.NJFamilies.com with resources to help you support your child's education, and navigate your school system. NJ DOE has also opened a "Help Desk" which can be reached through the parent menu option of our toll-free number: 877-900-6960.  Parents are encouraged to sign up for the NJ DOE’s mailing list; just go to http://www.state.nj.us/education and join the mailing list."

New to Cherry Hill? All registration is conducted centrally at the Malberg Administration Building. Click HERE for information on registering your students in our great public schools.