Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students, and Community Members:
Welcome to the 2012–2013 academic school year at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and the new and challenging opportunities that we will experience as a community. I would like to add a special welcome to the incoming 5th graders to Thomas Jefferson Middle School. It is also a pleasure to welcome back teachers, counselors, and to welcome new members of the faculty. They are:
- Kimberly Cecchini (Special Education)
- Lydia Damasco (Special Education)
- Michael Levy (Paraprofessional)
- Mark Martinez (Special Education)
- Nancy Marton (Special Education)
- Amy Van Lew (6th Grade)
I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that Mr. William Fleming will be leaving the Teaneck School District. Mr. Fleming has been appointed Director of Assessment and Teaching and Learning in the Bergenfield School District. Mr. Fleming continues to dedicate his life to the education of all students and providing resources, support, and educational information to enhance teaching and learning as well as student achievement. We wish Mr. Fleming great success and joy in his new position, and thank him for all the contributions he has made to Thomas Jefferson Middle School and to the Teaneck School District. It is my great pleasure to share with you that the Board of Education has approved the appointment of Mr. Edward Wilson as a new Assistant Principal for Thomas Jefferson Middle School. After his graduation from Ramapo College, Mr. Wilson served as a Social Studies teacher. Having been awarded a Masters Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University, Mr. Wilson has been a member of the Child Study Team in the East Orange School District. Mr. Wilson also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University and is currently pursuing his Doctoral Degree at Seton Hall University.
This year we have chosen a motto that will serve as a focal point for our discussions, our planning, and our efforts. The motto that was thoughtfully decided on and that reinforces our belief in each student, faculty member and the community at large is:
“COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING IN A CARING ENVIRONMENT”
I believe that this is fitting as we continue to address our goals to:
- Continue to improve the climate and culture of our building
- Create and provide learning opportunities that will allow for student collaboration and encourage critical thinking
- Enhancing student individual growth and academic achievement.
This cannot happen without the dedication, commitment, support, and involvement of each family, each student, each faculty member, and each member of the Thomas Jefferson Middle School administration. As your children experience these opportunities, which provide the necessary tools for a genuinely “quality education,” they will move forward on their educational journey to be ready for the challenges and opportunities their high school experience will provide.
The district goals for the 2011-2012 school year were to foster critical thinking across the disciplines and to analyze data to enhance student academic achievement. These district goals will continue to be our focus this year – in classes, in our literature, and in the ecology of our halls, classrooms, and meeting areas. Coupled with the district goals, the administrative team here at Thomas Jefferson Middle School is committed to focusing on student achievement, continuing the work of Professional Learning Communities, and to improving school climate. We recognize that it will be extremely difficult to reach our goals and objectives without the support, understanding and involvement of parents, guardians, and the greater Teaneck community in the education process. Commitment to life-long learning is truly a community commitment!
Each member of the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Community is encouraged to always be ready to accept new challenges, to meet new and different people, to read new books, to work together in professional learning communities, to enhance and develop “the whole person” as we move forward in today’s society. Each member of the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Community is encouraged to make good and positive choices everyday – through kindness, respect of self and others, through words and actions, and willingness to embrace every person and every opportunity to serve. My focus, time, energy, and dedication will be to model each of these goals and to support each of you as you strive to model this year’s slogan, embracing your unique role in the quality education offered at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Thomas Jefferson Middle School is to ensure that all work meets the highest level of academic achievement. We are dedicated to:
- Implementing the highest of standards.
- Empowering our students to become life-long learners who can identify their own strengths, learning styles, and areas in need of improvement.
- Nurturing our students’ development as they become safe, responsible and respectful members of society.
- Partnering with all stakeholders in developing our students’ skills in order to participate in the local and global community.
We will consistently re-evaluate and reconstruct curricula as necessary to prepare our students with the academic, interpersonal and technological skills needed to participate in the local and global community.
A great deal of information has been included in this letter. I hope that you will take the time to read through it carefully. Please do not hesitate to stop in or call the school if you have any questions.
I look forward to a very positive and rewarding school year and the vital support that you provide each and every day.
Sincerely,
Angela R. Davis
Principal
