Montville Township Schools Featured On Emmy-Winning 'Classroom Close-Up' Program Dec. 20

The Emmy-winning educational program, “Classroom Close-up, NJ” will air two more educational segments from Montville Township Public Schools. Beginning Sunday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 a.m., audiences can enjoy features on Montville ESY (Extended School Year) and Robert R. Lazar Middles School’s Organic Farming. The segments represent the third and fourth “Classroom Close-up, NJ” stories broadcast this year, and the seventh and eighth in the show’s twenty-two year history.

The two features will air again Dec. 26, Jan. 24 and Jan. 30.

Classroom Close-up, NJ is broadcast on NJTV every Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5:30 a.m. In most of the Montville Township broadcast area, NJTV is found on Cablevision’s channel 8.

The upcoming stories highlight two unique Montville Township Public Schools’ programs. Montville ESY was filmed in July, and Organic Farming was filmed at the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Montville ESY highlight’s Montville voluntary summer program for students in Pre-K through twelfth grade. Located in Montville Township High School, the atmosphere of the entire building is that of a high-energy summer camp where student-centered learning techniques result in highly motivated and thoroughly engaged students and teachers.

Each day education goes beyond traditional classroom activities, and often embraces the outdoors and other hands-on opportunities to enhance learning. Through varied and imaginative activities teachers help students close learning gaps in multiple subject areas and prepare students for the start of the upcoming academic year.

Organic Farming was established by seventh grade science teacher, Matthew Myers, Lazar’s “Organic Farming” program is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative.

Located in one of the school’s two court yard areas, Lazar’s farm program helps to teach students organic and sustainable farming techniques. Planted, cultivated and harvested by seventh graders, the program is an important part of the school’s science curriculum.

Crops that students plant and tend include arugula, mustard greens, lettuce and other microgreens

Prior to planting and following the harvest, students prepare the soil with compost made from kitchen scraps collected in the cafeteria. Rain barrels collect water for irrigation.

“We use everything,” Myers explained. “The point is to repurpose. Composting cafeteria kitchen scraps makes great fertilizer and collecting runoff reduces the impact of irrigation on community water resources.”

Once harvested, crops are used for lunches, and some are sold to teachers, staff and others as part of the CSA model. Some plants are also allowed to go to seed. The money earned through CSA, as well as the harvesting of seeds, helps to sustain the garden for future Organic Farming students.

Classroom Close-up, NJ, a fourteen-time Emmy-winning show, is a co-production of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and NJTV with additional funding by PSE&G.

Now in its twenty-second season, Classroom Close-up, NJ features innovative programs going on in public school classrooms. Each half-hour program shows how caring school professionals inspire and motivate students. Each week, the excellence of learning comes alive as teachers, children and parents work together for success.

NJEA is the state’s largest association of education professionals, representing 200,000 public school teachers and administrators, higher education faculty, education support professionals, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.

Other past Montville Township Public Schools features on Classroom Close-up, NJ include the titles listed below. These shows can be viewed on-line:

· “Humanities Research Program” - MTHS (2015)

· “Lazar News Network” (LNN) – Lazar, (2015)

· “Every Drop Counts” – Hilldale, (2007)

· “Show Case Café” – MTHS, (2006)

· “Governor’s Award Student” – MTHS, (2005)

· “The Cookie Project” – Hilldale, (2002)

Classroom Close-up, NJ airs on NJTV every Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5:30 a.m. In most of the Montville Township broadcast area, NJTV is found on Cablevision’s channel 8. Segments highlighting Montville ESY (Extended School Year) and Robert R. Lazar Middles School’s Organic Farming, will begin airing Sunday, December 20, at 7:30 a.m.

CAPTIONS (Photos by Sue Marinello)

1:

Film crews from the Emmy-winning television program, Classroom Close-up, NJ, filmed a segment about the “Montville ESY” in July. The exciting summer program is enjoyed by Pre-K to twelfth grade students. In this photo, second grade student, Kyle Cinella, spoke with the film crew as students and ESY staff members, Rose Issa and Patricia Swiatek, listened. The Montville Township Public Schools’ segment is one of two that will air on Sunday, December 20, Saturday, December 26, Sunday, January 24 and Saturday, January 30. Classroom Close-up, NJ airs on NJTV every Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5:30 a.m.

2:

Seventh grade students at Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville Township, NJ participate in teacher, Matthew Myers’ “Organic Farming” program throughout the school year. In September, the Emmy-winning television program, Classroom Close-up, NJ, filmed the project. The Montville Township Public Schools’ segment is one of two that will air on Sunday, December 20, Saturday, December 26, Sunday, January 24 and Saturday, January 30. Classroom Close-up, NJ airs on NJTV every Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5:30 a.m.