RED BANK — Borough Schools Superintendent Laura C. Morana shared news regarding changes to the pre-kindergarten program and summer camp program during a meeting with the press on April 15.

Morana expressed her gratitude for being able to expand the district’s nationally recognized pre-K offerings, despite the current economic hardship.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the children the opportunity to join a supportive, high-quality learning environment that promotes the child’s development as a whole,” Morana said.

According to Morana, the district is very fortunate to have received a Pre-school Expansion Grant from the New Jersey State Department of Education to expand the program for all 3- and 4-year-old students who reside in Red Bank.

“Our commitment to expanding the program in 2009-10 led us to the establishment of a partnership with local child care providers, which is known as a mixed-delivery system to deliver pre-school to children by teaming up with local Monmouth Day Care, the Tower Hill School, St. Anthony’s, and the Community YMCA,” Morana explained.

That approach was implemented in an effort to overcome space constraints in the Primary School. Despite classes being held outside of the Primary School, Morana said the district has remained responsible for monitoring all classrooms for quality and consistency in curriculum implementation regardless of classroom location.

While the amount of aid sought for the pre-K program was not what she’d hoped it would be, Morana said she was delighted that the district did receive $2.63 million to move ahead with its plans to expand. The program would now be made available to all 226 3- and 4-year-olds in the borough.

In a letter from Morana to the parents and guardians of the preschool-age children, she discussed the program’s learning environment.

“This rich learning environment is created through interactions with the indoor and outdoor physical environment, instructional materials, furnishings, and daily routines, as well as through a range of interpersonal relationships (adults with children, adults with adults, and children with children). It is within this supportive environment that each child’s optimal development takes place,” Morana wrote in a letter dated April 7.

“The child’s development in each domain (e.g., language, social, physical, cognitive, and social-emotional) is supported, sustained, extended, and enhanced primarily through activities that promote purposeful play within this environment,” she continued.

“The 2010-11 school year will be marked by a continued partnership with the Monmouth Day Care Center and Community YMCA. Additionally, the program will expand through the district’s collaboration with St. Anthony’s Church.

“New classrooms will be established at St. Anthony’s Parish Center and a new partnership with Head Start will allow for eligible students to participate in a full-day and high-quality program,” said Morana, adding that she is positive that parents will find the learning environments to be welcoming, supportive and challenging.

Morana said the district will be working closely with Head Start and that one 3-year-old and one 4-year-old class will be held there.

The district will not be partnering with Tower Hill School for the 2010-11 school year.

“We previously had one class located there. We’ve had a great experience with Tower Hill, but they have their own goals and plans for the space,” said Morana. “I’m grateful for having the opportunity to work with them over the past year, but the loss won’t affect our future.”

Morana said she is meeting with the pre- K providers to finalize details.

Monmouth Day Care Center will hold three classes, and the Community YMCA will hold two classes. Three-year-olds will be educated at Monmouth Day Care Center, the Community YMCA, and one class will be held at St. Anthony’s. Four-year olds will be taught at St. Anthony’s and the Primary School.

Morana explained that no matter what location the pre-K students are in, they are all educated under the Tools of the Mind curriculum,

“It is truly a partnership. They [the teachers at each location] attend all of our curriculum meetings and professional development days as well,” said Morana. “The curriculum is wonderful because it allows for consistency and continuity as the children move into kindergarten.”

Tools of the Mind classrooms are organized to allow for the establishment of learning centers. The centers promote concepts of print, early writing, phonemic awareness, oral language and comprehension skills, while at the same time emphasizing the development of self-regulation and classroom routines. routines.

Themes are used to focus instruction in mathematics and science. Small group instruction addresses individual students’ needs and allows for a personal connection between the teacher and his or her students.

Conferencing with parents and guardians is a key component of the program that facilitates the development of self-responsibility and overall readiness, organizational and planning skills.

Students involved in the program participate in approximately 40 minutes of math activities throughout their day. Teachers assign homework every week so that students can reinforce their skills at home. Additionally, a literacy component to each assignment has been added so that students can continue to improve their writing skills.

Earlier this month, the district held four informational sessions where the program’s curriculum, organization, registration process, and other specifics were discussed.

“Everyone was so eager to obtain their registration packet and get started. Everyone wanted to get it in right away,” said Morana.

The thick packet required parents and guardians to provide information regarding their child’s health records, birth certificate, and proof of residency.

“The registration packet also leads us to the assignment of students to particular sites,” said Morana. “New questions in this year’s packet include inquiries regarding who would or would not require provided transportation at the different locations.”

Morana said she hopes to notify parents of their child’s placement on June 30.

In addition, Morana spoke about the district’s summer camp program, which lasts six weeks from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Last year, camp lasted eight weeks but was held only Monday through Thursday until 3 p.m.

“Extended hours will be made available for an additional fee,” Morana said. “The overall structure is more responsive to the needs of the students, and having Fridays is much better for coordinating field trips. We’ll be working collaboratively with Department of Parks and Recreation.”

Morana said breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided for all campers, and transportation from the Primary School will be available in the morning and afternoon.

A flier for the camp reads: “Campers will experience action-packed days at Red Bank Middle School, filled with a combination of creative writing and literature and mathematical problem solving with sports games, art, musical theater, computers, boat building, Spanish, Chinese, and exploring nature.”

The program is highlighted by weekly special events such as picnics, field trips, and visiting performers and artists.

Campers are grouped by grade (grades one though five and six though eight,) yet Morana said students have ample opportunities to form friendships with campers of all ages and all of the staff.

Information and registration sessions for 2010 summer camp will be held Thursday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School.