The Marie V. Duffy Elementary School, recognized as a Governor’s School of Excellence, is a community coming together to fulfill the district’s mission for students to become responsible, productive, life-long learners.
Parents are active in our learning community, sharing of their time and talents as participants in their children’s education. The opportunities for involvement begin with Back to School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences and continue during American Education Week, holiday celebrations, PTA meetings and sponsored activities, as well as through community service projects and being class parents. Evening programs for our families include Family Math, Family Science, and Take Learning Home with the Phonics Game.
Our community of learners, of course, includes our teachers and support staff. Thoughtful conversations about education can be overheard before, during, and after school in the classrooms, hallways and offices. The presence of a plethora of student teachers and practicum students adds a reflective dimension to the community. Professional development includes study groups, collaborative planning meetings at each grade level, visiting other teacher’s classrooms, taking graduate courses, and workshops on best practices. Teachers and support staff engage in ongoing professional development, as a way to hone and advance their craft. The education of each and every child is our reason for being here and the goal is for every student to achieve his/her best.
Our students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning at individually appropriate levels as they move from Pre-K in one of our community’s preschools, to the Duffy school from kindergarten through fifth grade. Our curriculum addresses the NJ Core Content Standards and integrates test preparation as one of a host of life-long skills we want our children to possess. A myriad of programs are geared to meeting the diverse needs of our students. The school day is extended for many through programs designed to give a boost to students when needed, such as the early morning OTAGS, or Off to a Good Start, program or our afternoon Homework Club. Programs abound during the day as well to ensure the success of our students.
We have received numerous grants that enable us to broaden our reach.
In this age of constant rapid change, the parents, students, teachers and staff at the M.V. Duffy School are continually reminded of the fact that we all need to be responsible, productive, life-long learners.