Community Corner
Four Rivers STEAM Charter School Announces Kids Spark STEM Program Summer Literacy Program
Pre-k through grade 8 students will focus on Science and Math as a partnership to their Reading Great New Books aligned to STEM
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Four Rivers STEAM Charter School is proud to announce that Kids Spark STEM and Literacy Summer Program will now also be the Program that they will be using for the K-8 program.
Here's what the program is all about:
Kid Spark Education Innovative, Standards-Aligned STEM Curriculum (Pre-K–8)
Overview
Kid Spark Education offers a research-based, hands-on STEM curriculum designed to build
strong STEM fluencies from Pre-K through Grade 8. The program supports in-school, after-
school, and expanded learning initiatives by helping students develop critical thinking,
creativity, collaboration, and confidence in STEM disciplines.
Instructional Design
• Progressive, multi-year STEM learning pathway
• Hands-on, project-based instruction
• Emphasis on engineering, problem-solving, and design thinking
• Equity-focused approach that supports diverse learners
Standards Alignment
The Kid Spark curriculum is aligned with major national frameworks, including:
• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
• Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
• Head Start Early Learning Framework
• CASEL Social-Emotional Learning Framework
Grade-Level Curriculum Overview
Pre-K – Grade 1:
• Spatial reasoning
• Classification and comparison
• Sequencing and pattern recognition
• Early problem-solving skills
Grades 2 – 5:
• Mechanisms and movement
• Applied mathematics
• Robotics and introductory coding
• Sensors and renewable energy
Grades 6 – 8:
• Simple and compound machines
• Coding concepts (loops, variables, logic)
• Engineering design challenges
• Prototyping and applied problem-solving
Curriculum Components
• Detailed teacher lesson plans
• Student workbooks and activities
• Engineering and design challenges
• Assessment tools and rubrics
Professional Learning & Support
• Ongoing educator professional development
• Online training modules
• Implementation support for sustainability
District Impact
Kid Spark Education supports districts in building early and sustained STEM literacy,
increasing student engagement, supporting equity and access in STEM learning, and
preparing students for future academic and career pathways.
The Governor has let us down! Our Community Is Not Getting The Truth about NJ Schools
Four Rivers STEAM Charter School has written a letter to Senator Gopal with the below information:
"We would like to present our changes for the Four Rivers STEAM Charter School that the NJDOE has asked us to correct for our March, 2025 application.
We also would like to set up a community meeting to present our Spark STEM Literacy program to the community as a summer workshop for Pk-8.
In connecting to the Freehold Borough community, I am certain that the parents will be excited to become the framework for education development and student growth within the Freehold community.
Parents are important to us as our mission is to have parents. and community leaders involved with the growth mindset that our charter school has established. We must move Freehold forward as a whole community without the segregation that now exists .
The 2024 test scores clearly prove that Freehold Borough cannot meet the needs of their students in the framework that currently exists. Freehold Township has shown minimal progress in ELA and Math since 2022 where other even lower performing districts have made significant gains in STEM and ELA. We hope you will learn more about our proposed school and develop an interest in serving the needs of every student regardless of race, or socioeconomic background. All students matter!"
Parents and community leaders - reach out to Senator Gopal to set up a community meeting!
Click here for more information.
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