Way to school

Have you ever thought of a bus driver as a second mom? No? Mrs. Graff wouldn’t agree. Because for a upcoming Mother’s Day she is gonna receive lots of attention and even cards from her young passengers. She is a Middle Township Elementary school bus driver for 3 years. Every morning she hits the same road to pick up her kids for the school. Sometimes they play songs, sometimes silent game – it is a lot of fun on the road there. Don’t miss it!

Some numbers:

800 pupils

75 teachers

30 classrooms

1 library media center and 1 computer lab

2 in 1 – cafeteria and concert room.

We were invited to have an excursion to the halls and walls of Middle Township Elementary School in Cape May Court House, NJ. It was an exciting 1-hour journey to the kids’ castle of knowledge, where teachers know how to mix study and fun.

Once a month everybody in school does a fire drill as we do in Russian schools. Other drill which they do is lockdown one. They learn how to maintain safety in the event of a stranger in the building. It’s a newer wave when years before they used to have bomb drills because of potential Soviet threat.

Each kid is treated here in his personal way. The school got all kinds of teachers:

- for advanced learning

- English as a 2^nd language Pro

- of arts, music and physical training

- who correct pronunciation

- to help pupils with special needs

- to work with hyperactive children

- and even “lunch teachers” who watch kids on the playground during the break

They never grade their pupils in the elementary school. But on the wall next to cafeteria you can look through the pictures of marked students. They get star-shaped stickers for a good did (holding the door, picking up books from the floor, helping teachers here and there). And at the end of a school year there is a special Awards Ceremony based on those star-points! But if you failed to get stars you have a chance to get “the best smile” certificate anyway :)