Smithville Elementary School - Galloway Township Public Schools

1. Welcome to
Back-to-School Night
September 2018
Galloway Township Public Schools
Where Children and Learning Come First

2. Based on feedback from last
year’s survey, we are using this
repeating presentation and are
limiting verbal remarks.
This presentation will be emailed
to families and posted on our
district website and social media
sites.
Your attention is appreciated.
CORE VALUES
RESPECT
COMMUNICATION – HARD WORK
INTEGRITY – DIVERSITY
EXCELLENCE

3. Your help is needed,
and we are here to help you!
• If you have not already done so, visit our website
www.gtps.k12.nj.us to view all school opening documents and
complete the sign-off sheet.
• Two other documents – demographic information and
medical form – require separate signatures.
• Contact your child’s teacher, counselor/case manager, and/or
administrators if you need assistance with school opening forms,
supplies/materials, or a family situation.
• Help is always available at your child’s school and/or through the
district office.

4. Please consider and take time to…
• Join our Family School Association
• Officers are here this evening!
• Visit regularly our website which also has links to our social media accounts
• Sign-up for School Messenger text messaging
• Participate in the District Community Advisory Committee
• Group that meets regularly with the Superintendent
• Contact Heather Harris at harrish@gtps.k12.nj.us or 748-1250, ext. 1016
• Attend a Board Meeting
• The Board meets every month on the 4th Monday and on the 2nd Monday during September,
October, January, February, March, April, May, and June
• All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. and are held in the GTMS Cafetorium.

5. Special Thanks to the Education Foundation for
supporting our schools including…
Field Trips
•Grade 1Cape May Zoo
•Grade 3Levoy Theatre – “Cirque Ziva”
•Grade 6 Novins Planetarium

6. District Goals – 2018-2020
• To complete a detailed study of the current school configuration, attendance
zones, and facility use
• To continue to provide a safe, healthy environment for students and staff
• To continue to enhance instructional practice and increase student achievement
in accordance with research and experience in best practices and in alignment
with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards
• To continue to upgrade infrastructure and equipment to operate efficiently and
effectively
• To continue to enhance school district – stakeholder relationships

7. Please take time to complete our
School Safety and Security Survey!
• Tonight you can visit the Cafeteria to
complete it.
• The link is also available on our
website
www.gtps.k12.nj.us
if you prefer to complete it from home
and include your child(ren).
• The survey is opened until
October 15th
• Survey results are always reviewed and
analyzed and provide important feedback
to help us plan. Recent examples include:
• Two years ago, results from the survey
indicated that math homework was the
greatest challenge for families. Therefore,
schools held Family Math Nights to help
address this concern.
• As stated at the beginning of this power
point, this presentation is being played to
help reduce speaking at the opening of
Back-to-School Night.
• This year, you will see a decrease in papers
sent home and an increase in electronic
communication. Again, this was based on
survey responses.

8. And speaking of school safety/security, we are
pleased to announce the following updates*:
• The hiring of additional School Resource Officers – Galloway Township Police
Department employees funded by the school district budget.
• SRO Rich Sellitsch – full-time assigned between Reeds and Roland and Pomona
• SRO….part-time assigned to Arthur Rann
• SRO…part-time assigned to Smithville
• SRO Paul Dooner – full-time at GTMS
• The installation of a new and expanded video surveillance system.
• The completion of door barricades for lockdown purposes.
• GTPS black and white lanyards being worn by all Galloway employees so we are
readily identified. Other lanyard colors are assigned to groups such as guest
teachers, volunteers, and visitors.
*For security reasons, not all measures are publicly announced.

9. Promoting Safe Arrival / Dismissal
• If you child is assigned a bus, we encourage you to use it.
• Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus
instead of traveling by car (National Highway Safety Transportation Board).
• Additionally, using the bus lessens the number of cars near and on school property.
• If you do drive your child to/from school, please follow all signs regarding
parking, one way areas, etc…and drive slowly near and on school property.
• If you child walks to school, we encourage traveling with others. Please
reinforce that they cross streets where crossing guards are available.

10. District Configuration Study
• Reviewing the use and grade level
configuration of all schools.
• Educational considerations are main
priority.
• Efficient and effective use of all
facilities, transportation services,
staffing, etc. are important
considerations.
• Parent/guardian, faculty/staff, and
community representation on the
committee is being sought. Please
contact the Superintendent, Dr.
Annette Giaquinto, for questions and if
you are interested in joining.
• Via Heather Harris at
harrish@gtps.k12.nj.us or 748-1250,
ext. 1016
• By emailing Dr. Giaquinto at
giaquintoa@gtps.k12.nj.us
• By talking to Dr. Giaquinto this evening
(will be here for about an hour –
attends all Back-To-School-Nights)
There is no pre-determined
outcome. For 2019-2020,
there may be no change or
reconfiguration may occur.
The administration and
representative Board
members will first listen to
input and
recommendations from the
committee. The topic will
then be discussed at public
Board meetings. Look for
information throughout
the school year.

11. Please remember that tonight’s purpose is to learn about
your child’s teacher(s), curriculum, programs, and school.
There are separate parent-teacher conferences for the
purpose of discussing your individual child (see our school
calendar and look for conference scheduling info).
If you need to speak to a teacher or other staff member
prior to the conference dates, please call or email the
teacher at any time.

12. Smithville Dolphins are going SURFing:
Self-Control
Understanding
Respectful
Fair

13. The 3 Major
Components
of SURF.
 Teaching appropriate behavior in all settings.
 Interventions when behavior expectations are not met.
 Recognition when behaviors are met.

14. Restorative and Preventative
Organized system of Positive Behavior
management in all settings
Organized system of disciplinary actions
Clear school wide expectations with
incentives and consequences
Actual teaching of Positive Behavior
Expectations
Behavioral recognition system for kids doing
the right thing

15. Recognitions for individual
student include the following:
• School-wide incentives will include the
following:
• Principal’s Treasure Box.
• Lunch with a Principal, including
snack incentive.
• Student artwork in the SURF
Museum.
• Name in monthly raffle for a TD
bank, 25 dollar gift card.
• SURF dining with friends.

16. Our Arts and Humanities, ESL
teachers, CST, and Guidance are
located in the café during the second
session and would enjoy meeting you.
Thank You for Joining Us this Evening!