header_fwtitle ) { $css_title .= 'font-weight:' . esc_attr( $pheader_fwtitle ) . ';'; } if ( $pheader_title_color ) { $css_title .= 'color:' . esc_attr( $pheader_title_color ) . ';'; } if ( $css_title ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap .penci-page-header-title {' . $css_title . '}'; } if ( $pheader_line_color ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap .penci-page-header-title:before{ border-color: ' . esc_attr( $pheader_line_color ) . '; opacity: 1; }'; } if ( $pheader_bread_fsize ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb span, .penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb a, .penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb i{ font-size:' . esc_attr( $pheader_bread_fsize ) . 'px; }'; } if ( $pheader_bread_color ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb span, .penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb a,.penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb i{ color:' . esc_attr( $pheader_bread_color ) . '; }'; } if ( $pheader_bread_hcolor ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap .container.penci-breadcrumb a:hover{ color:' . $pheader_bread_hcolor . '; }'; } if ( $pheader_bgimg ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap{ background-image: url(' . esc_attr( $pheader_bgimg ) . '); }'; } if ( $pheader_bgcolor ) { echo '.penci-page-header-wrap{ background-color:' . esc_attr( $pheader_bgcolor ) . '; }'; } } endif; Cougar Prep Archives - The Village Green https://villagegreennj.com/tag/cougar-prep/ of Maplewood and South Orange Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:05:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://villagegreennj.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/vg-fav-1.png Cougar Prep Archives - The Village Green https://villagegreennj.com/tag/cougar-prep/ 32 32 FAMILYConnections Making Students Ready for High School Success https://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/familyconnections-making-students-ready-high-school-success/ Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:46:09 +0000 http://villagegreennj.com/?p=30913

The following is from FAMILYConnections: Twenty-three teens and their parents gathered Thursday, July 28 at…

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The following is from FAMILYConnections:

Twenty-three teens and their parents gathered Thursday, July 28 at Columbia High School (CHS) to graduate from Cougar Prep, a four week high school readiness program for incoming freshmen.  Cougar Prep is a collaboration between the South Orange – Maplewood School District and The Loft, managed by FAMILYConnections, preparing rising 8th graders for the transition from middle school to high school.

“Cougar Prep is part of FAMILYConnections’ ongoing partnership with CHS to provide teens with academic and life skills support” said Jacques Hryshko, FAMILYConnections’ Executive Director. “Our graduates took part in morning academics with CHS teachers and life skills training and recreation sponsored by The Loft. We congratulate them for a job well done and wish them well as they begin their high school career.”

CHS Assistant Principal Terry Woolard congratulated students on their successful completion of the Cougar Prep program, reminding them that they will receive 1.25 high school credits for satisfying program requirements.

Cougar Prep delivers intensive academics paired with recreation and small group discussions on life skills, healthy decision making, anger management, goal-setting and consequences to actions. Presentations by CHS administration; guidance and security; Philip Stern, SOMSD In-house Counsel; the Maplewood Police Department; the Sheriff’s Office, and David’s Shoes focused on expectations, prevention related to alcohol and drugs, violence, gangs and good decision making.

This year participants completed a research project related to one of two topics: Sports and Society, or Environmental Science. Students had the opportunity as well to participate in additional arts and crafts activities in the afternoon, such as mini canvas paintings, planting and clay magnets.

The Loft at CHS is funded by the Department of Children and Families, Division of Family and Community Partnerships. Investors Bank provided funding for Cougar Prep.

For more information about The Loft, please call (973) 762-5600, ext. 1188.

ABOUT FAMILYConnections, Inc.

FAMILYConnections is a non-profit counseling and family services agency with more than 35 specialized programs for all ages from infants to seniors. The agency delivers research-based therapeutic services to improve the quality of life throughout the community by reducing child abuse, drug abuse, gang involvement, and crime; by increasing social and coping skills, school success, and employability; by healing emotional pain and helping individuals and families grow strong and independent.

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]]> SOMSD Interested in Increasing Summer Program Enrollment https://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/somsd-interested-increasing-summer-program-enrollment/ Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:57:25 +0000 http://villagegreennj.com/?p=18089

  After a presentation Monday night by South Orange-Maplewood Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Susan…

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After a presentation Monday night by South Orange-Maplewood Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Susan Grierson on the results of the school district’s summer programs, Board of Education members agreed that more should be done to increase enrollment.

In all, 725 students “spent time in our schools this summer in a variety of programs,” said Grierson. The programs included: Cougar Prep, Summer Step Up, Academic Advancement, Academic Support, Credit Recovery, ELL (English Language Learning), Extended School Year, and the FAST program providing support for summer reading and requirement for Columbia High School students.

All of the programs are described below in Grierson’s presentation.

In a nod to complaints about 5th to 6th grade math placement notification last year, Grierson said that “going forward the takeaway is to identify students earlier and notify parents earlier so that everyone can take advantage of the programs we offer.”

Board member Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad noted that the “spend” for middle school students was lower than she would have anticipated ($40,500 compared to $64,400 for elementary, $140,300 for high school, and $350,000 for special services).

Grierson responded, “I assume it is the late notifications. People are putting deposits down for camp in January.”

Lawson-Muhammad also questioned what the district was offering for middle school students through summer programs besides the math step-up program.

Grierson responded, “I’m interested and assessing all the programs and making sure they are effective.” She noted that the district did not offer middle school ELA this summer. “Participation is important,” said Grierson. “We found attendance at all levels to not be as good as we would like it to be.”

Board member Elizabeth Baker questioned why the math packets and reading lists for middle school were not required this year and suggested that a more prescriptive reading list would benefit students more. The voluntary reading and math, said Baker, “seemed to be going in the opposite direction” of the district’s goals.

Board First Vice President Madhu Pai expressed surprise that students needed to recover credits for nearly 600 failed classes at Columbia High School. “Did nearly 600 students fail a class?” she asked.

Grierson said “yes,” but Board member Beth Daugherty noted that the number probably included some of the same students failing multiple classes.

“That’s even worse!” exclaimed Pai.

Board member Maureen Jones wanted to know what supports were being offered to failing students during the school year and Lawson-Muhammad asked, “What is the other piece of data? What is our community of struggling kids? What does that population look like? Do we report out on that?”

Grierson noted that that was an internal report with supervisors and principals.

Lawson-Muhammad acknowledged that it made sense that that information was internal but said, “We as a board need to care, as we have conversations about the upper tier.”

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