Office of Early Childhood Education
Departments Home
Abbott Facilities
Accounts Payable
Affirmative Action
Alternative Programs
Bilingual Education
Building & Grounds
Business Services
Communications
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Curriculum
Environmental Center
Federal & State Funding
Finance
Food Services
Guidance & Testing
Health Services
Human Services
Payroll
Professional Development
Purchasing
Research, Planning & Information Services
School Based Youth Services
Schools In Need of Improvement
Secondary Curriculum
Security
Special Services
Technology
Transportation
Truancy/Attendance
Abbott Facilities
Accounts Payable
Affirmative Action
Alternative Programs
Bilingual Education
Building & Grounds
Business Services
Communications
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Curriculum
Environmental Center
Federal & State Funding
Finance
Food Services
Guidance & Testing
Health Services
Human Services
Payroll
Professional Development
Purchasing
Research, Planning & Information Services
School Based Youth Services
Schools In Need of Improvement
Secondary Curriculum
Security
Special Services
Technology
Transportation
Truancy/Attendance
Division of Elementary Education - Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Early Childhood
201 N. Front Street - 3rd Floor
Camden, N.J. 08102
Main Number: 856-966-2342
Fax: 856-966-2331
Mission Statement
The Office of Early Childhood's mission is to provide an all-inclusive, high quality preschool education for 3 and 4 year old children who reside in Camden city.
We believe early childhood is a crucial time in development that requires positive experiences from which children can develop and grow. We will:
- Provide a safe and nurturing environment where children will play, explore, experiment, and develop a lifelong joy for learning
- Utilize developmentally-appropriate practice and proven research to guide instruction
- Implement a research-based curriculum with an aligned assessment system
- Intentionally plan lessons, activities, and experiences that promote high expectations, exceed standards, and build a strong academic and social-emotional foundation
- Promote acceptance and understanding of our unique and special attributes
- Provide an inclusive program with appropriate supports and individualized plans as needed for children with special needs or dual language learners
- Develop creative thinkers and problem solvers who make good choices and develop positive self esteem
- Collaborate and partner with families, health service providers, and community stakeholders
- Provide ongoing, comprehensive professional development to early childhood professionals who educate and support our children and families
Program Description & Registration
The Camden City Early Childhood Education Program offers a nurturing environment for three and four-year-old children. We offer a full day program that is open year-round. The class size consists of 15 children, one certified teacher, and one paraprofessional. The program provides a smooth transition from home to preschool and preschool to kindergarten. A developmentally-appropriate curriculum is the basis of instruction throughout the district. The classroom provides a supportive and caring environment where children can develop a sense of trust and belonging. Children's culture, diversity, and individual differences are recognized and respected. Parent concerns regarding children's developmental progress are addressed and evaluated as necessary. Our goal is for our children to develop a love for learning and a positive attitude towards school.
Camden City Public Schools works hand-in-hand with the New Jersey Department of Education's Division of Early Childhood Education.
Registration Requirements:
-
Age -
Child must be three (3) or four (4) years old on or before October 1, 2010. (BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED) -
Immunization -
Current immunization (medical) records -
Proof of Residency -
Proof of Camden City residency (there is no cost to attend Camden City Preschools) -
Physical Examination -
Physical examination with lead test results
Curriculum
Our classrooms follow the Creative Curriculum Approach. Our teachers document observations and the assessment of our children using the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment system. In a nutshell, this approach is "a comprehensive Early Childhood educational system that has been shown to promote the cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development of young children" (quoted from HERE). Parental involvement is encouraged in every classroom and is an online component with Creative Curriculum/Teaching Strategies Gold! Using Parents Central, families can view children's photographs, artwork, and portfolios, add their own observations and photographs from home, and view the teacher's weekly planning form online! The Creative Curriculum Approach is one of the New Jersey Department of Education - Division of Early Childhood Education's five recommended curricula. The Teaching Strategies Gold objectives are aligned to the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards as well as the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.
Inclusion
We believe that a high-quality preschool program should be provided to all children, including those with special needs. We also believe that children with special needs are entitled to be educated in the least-restrictive environment. For that reason, children with special needs who are placed in inclusive settings get the best of both worlds. In addition to being exposed to positive social interactions with typically-developing children, the supports and services, which are outlined in the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), are carried out in the child's natural environment - the classroom. The children are able to work toward reaching their goals within the regular routines and activities of the classroom. Teachers modify and adapt the environment, curriculum and materials to meet the needs of the children so that they are not only exposed to classroom experiences, but they are successful in their participation. We pride ourselves on the wonderful preschool experience provided to all of the children in our program.
To contact Special Services directly, please click HERE.
If you are concerned that your preschool child is developing or learning differently, you can call 856-966-2345 to request an evaluation for preschool special education and related services.
Supports for Dual Language Learners
Educational Program Specialists work with individual teachers to develop weekly planning forms (lesson plans) that show Dual Language Learner (DLL) strategies and activities to scaffold DLL's learning of English and the home language. We model small group lessons using ELL strategies such as Picture Support Systems (Survival Phrases), props, acting out, gestures, and finger plays. We stress the importance of choosing units of study that are relevant to the children's prior knowledge and support the DLL activities through read-alouds, songs, pictures, and repetition. Our classrooms are equipped with literacy materials in many languages, not just English. We provide district-wide professional development in techniques, strategies, and materials needed for creating a language-rich environment that facilitates the support of the child's home language and development of English in their natural preschool environment. District staff and parent/community volunteers provide home language translation, explain cultural beliefs to program staff, and assist with outreach to families as needed.
The Role of the Educational Program Specialist
The New Jersey Department of Education defines the Educational Program Specialists as "specialized teachers who provide and maintain high levels of quality by helping and supporting preschool teachers. Their primary role is to visit classrooms and coach teachers using reflective practice to improve instruction." (Quoted from NJDOE HERE) The Educational Program Specialists meet with preschool teachers and paraprofessionals to coach/mentor them in self-reflection and improving their teaching practice, helping them strive to be the best teachers they can be! They also administer assessments like ECERS-R (classroom assessment), PCMI (math), and SELA (literacy) to help classrooms build upon their quality and give children the safest, most fun, and educational experience possible.
The Role of the Preschool Intervention and Referral Team (PIRT)
The Preschool Intervention and Referral Team (P.I.R.T.) is a team of professionals who provide support to the development of preschool-aged children in their school or childcare settings. Our mission is to proactively improve the social-emotional growth and development of our children in a diverse setting through high-quality age-appropriate interactions by empowering and educating families, teachers, staff, and administrators. Our members include Early Childhood Special Educators, Social Workers, a School Psychologist, Speech Therapists, and Early Intervention Specialists.
P.I.R.T. assists teachers in developing their skills in Positive Behavior Support (PBS). "PBS is for children who persist in challenging behavior and do not respond to general child guidance procedures. PBS is an approach to developing effective and individualized interventions for children with severe challenging behavior. PBS was developed both from the science of applied behavior analysis and the values of child-centered approaches to learning. In PBS, interventions are designed based on understanding the purpose of the challenging behavior. The positive strategies used to change behavior include teaching new skills, preventing the occurrence of challenging behavior, and supporting the child in achieving meaningful, long-term outcomes." (quoted from HERE)
The Role of the Preschool Social Workers
The Preschool Social Workers support and empower parents and families, as well as foster relationships between the home, school, and community. They reach out to families, assess individual/family needs, inform families of community resources, and coordinate available services to improve the educational and social quality of children and their families. The Preschool Social Workers collaborate with the CPIS, P.I.R.T., teachers, other school staff, and community agencies. They also assist with recruitment, enrollment, and the transition process. Workshops are provided throughout the school year to educate parents, encourage parent involvement, and strengthen families.
The Role of Community & Parent Involvement Specialists (CPIS)
The Community & Parent Involvement Specialist (CPIS) oversees the school district's family services for the Early Childhood Department. The CPIS collaborates and coordinates work with Private Child Care Providers and Family Workers, Preschool Social Workers, local and state agencies, and other community resources in developing and maintaining a partnership to improve the overall well-being of children and families. Some of the responsibilities of the CPIS are to assist families in placing their child(ren) in the Early Childhood program, monitor the recruitment, enrollment, and transition process, organize family involvement activities within the community, coordinate the community needs assessment, and chair the Early Childhood Education Advisory Council.
Early Childhood Times: Camden's Early Childhood Newsletter
Camden City's Office of Early Childhood creates a newsletter about six times over the course of the school year. It is delivered via E-mail and as a hardcopy to all of our associated childcare centers and in-district schools and classrooms. Teachers, Educational Program Specialists, paraprofessionals, and other people in the Early Childhood field contribute articles and share pictures of all things related to Early Childhood and Camden.
Click on the link below to download an Adobe PDF version of the Early Childhood Times newsletter for Free!
Contacts
Director
Supervisors
Account Manager
Office Staff
Ms. Brenda Serrano, Secretary
Ms. Cynthia Russell, Clerk Ext. 38325 Email: crussell@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Brenda Serrano, Secretary
Ext. 38327
Email: bserrano-mitchell@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Cynthia Russell, Clerk Ext. 38325 Email: crussell@camden.k12.nj.usCommunity and Parent Involvement Specialist
Educational Program Specialists
Deborah Mimms
Ext. 38319 Email: dmimms@camden.k12.nj.us
Ext. 38319 Email: dmimms@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Johari Sykes Voice: 856-614-7669 Email:joharisykes@camden.k12.nj.us Ms. Lavinia Taylor
Ext. 38328
Email: lvtaylor@camden.k12.nj.us
Ext. 38328
Email: lvtaylor@camden.k12.nj.us
Preschool Intervention and Referral Team (P.I.R.T.)
Phone: (856) 966-4171
Ms. Jennifer Brozoski
Email: jbrozoski@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: jbrozoski@camden.k12.nj.us
Nichole Desesso
Email: ndesesso@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: ndesesso@camden.k12.nj.us
Susan Curry
Email: scurry@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: scurry@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Loray Dobson
Email: ldobson@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: ldobson@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Virginia Flanigan Email: vflanigan@camden.k12.nj.us Ms. Vanessa Hill
Email: vahill@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: vahill@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Alison Marchesano
Email: ahoell@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: ahoell@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Gailen Huff
Email: ghuff@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: ghuff@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Marilus Pagan
Email: mapagan@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: mapagan@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Cheryl Scott
Email: cdscott@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: cdscott@camden.k12.nj.us
Melissa Tamagno
Email: mtamagno@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: mtamagno@camden.k12.nj.us
Ms. Donielle Wesley-Wallace
Email: dwesley@camden.k12.nj.us
Email: dwesley@camden.k12.nj.us
Photos From Around the District
