At J. Harvey Rodgers School, we are proud to offer a dynamic, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate early childhood program for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. Our goal is to lay a strong academic and social foundation that prepares every student for long-term success. All programming is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and supported by funding through the ESEA Entitlement Grant and Preschool Education Expansion Aid (PEEA).

Our dedicated faculty implements research-based, data-driven best practices designed to meet the needs of the whole child. Instruction is rooted in current educational research and developed in partnership with district curriculum supervisors and support staff.

Pre-Kindergarten Program

Our mixed-age preschool classrooms serve both three- and four-year-old children, allowing for a unique learning environment where younger students build confidence and older students strengthen empathy and leadership skills. This model fosters:

• Early leadership development

• A sense of individuality and belonging

• Cooperative learning over competition

• Growth in confidence and social-emotional awareness

• Diverse opportunities for cognitive and language development

We use the Creative Curriculum, a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate program that balances teacher-guided instruction with child-initiated learning. It promotes growth in key developmental domains: social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical. Literacy instruction emphasizes vocabulary development, phonological awareness, comprehension, and the joy of reading and writing. Math is integrated through meaningful, play-based experiences that build foundational understanding.

Kindergarten Program

Our Kindergarten Language Arts block consists of 130 minutes of integrated instruction built around the Wit & Wisdom curriculum. Students engage with high-quality texts, multimedia, and interactive learning experiences while developing skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The year is organized into four engaging modules:

• The Five Senses

• Once Upon a Farm

• America Then and Now

• The Continents

Instruction is supported through:

• Fundations for phonemic awareness, word study, and handwriting

• Geodes for small-group guided reading

• Wit & Wisdom for whole-group literacy

• Play-based knowledge centers to extend and apply learning

Student progress is closely monitored through MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) Reading Fluency, an adaptive assessment that evaluates oral fluency, foundational skills, and comprehension. Teachers work in collaboration with the ELA supervisor and grade-level teams to analyze data and tailor instruction accordingly.

In math, Kindergarten students learn through the Eureka Math curriculum, which makes learning fun and meaningful. Topics include:

• Numbers to 10

• Shapes in two and three dimensions

• Measurement and comparison

• Number pairs and operations

• Counting to 100

• Composing and analyzing shapes

Each lesson features fluency practice, application problems, concept development, and student debriefing. Concepts build sequentially across modules and grade levels, allowing for deep understanding and readiness for future learning.

Student Support Services

To meet the diverse needs of all learners, Rodgers offers a range of support programs, including:

• Basic Skills Instruction in Language Arts

• English as a Second Language (ESL)

• Special Education services, including an Extended Year Program

• Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) to identify strategies for students needing academic or behavioral support

• Child Study Team referrals, when additional evaluation is needed

Character Education

At J. Harvey Rodgers School, character development is woven into the fabric of our school culture through our districtwide Bulldog PRIDE initiative. In alignment with our academic focus, we intentionally cultivate the social and emotional growth of our students, helping them develop into responsible, compassionate, and ethical individuals.

PRIDE stands for the five core values at the heart of our character education program:

• Perseverance – Encouraging students to stay determined and keep trying, even when tasks are difficult

• Respect – Teaching children to value others, listen actively, and celebrate differences

• Integrity – Promoting honesty and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching

• Dependability – Fostering responsibility, accountability, and follow-through

• Empathy – Helping students understand and care about how others feel, and respond with kindness and compassion

Each month, a specific virtue is highlighted through classroom discussions, morning meetings, character lessons, schoolwide assemblies, and daily teacher-student interactions. Our use of shared language and common expectations helps create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment where students are regularly recognized for making positive choices.

Bulldog PRIDE not only enhances the climate of our school—it builds the foundation for lifelong success. Through this work, we aim to prepare students not only to succeed academically, but also to live lives of purpose, character, and meaningful contribution.

Family and Community Engagement

At J. Harvey Rodgers School, we recognize that families are vital partners in student success. We are committed to fostering strong home-school connections and are proud to offer a variety of meaningful opportunities for families to stay engaged throughout the year.

Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) meets monthly to plan schoolwide events, coordinate fundraisers, and provide valuable support for classrooms, field trips, and special activities. In addition to PTO involvement, families are invited to participate in events such as Family Nights, Preschool Parent Workshops, and Multicultural Celebrations that promote learning and strengthen our school community.

We are also supported by our Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC), which includes families, staff, and community members working collaboratively to enhance and inform our early childhood programming.

Through these partnerships, we strive to create a warm, inclusive environment where every child—and every family—feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to take an active role in the educational journey.

Instructional District Leaders

Our instructional programming is supported by district-level curriculum leaders:

• Catherine Torbik – Director of Special Education

• Brandi Sheridan – Supervisor of Math and Science

• Andrew Pancoast – Supervisor of Language Arts and Social Studies

• Amy Masso – Supervisor of Basic Skills

• Sue Kornicki – Supervisor of Educational Technology and Visual & Performing Arts