PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Buddy Classes
GRADES K-8
All upper grade and lower grade classes are matched as buddy classes. The students have an opportunity to meet occasionally during Advisor/Advisee Period and at other designated times set aside during the school year. The students read together, do projects, have morning meeting, play games and have lots of fun together.
“Did You Know” Bulletin Board
Grades K-8
Mrs. Charwin and Mrs. Sara Fernandez, Middle School Social Studies Teacher, work together to create a student recognition bulletin board on a monthly basis. Students “out of school” accomplishments are highlighted on this bulletin board. Names are submitted by teachers and students. Eighth grade reporters create a write up for each student highlighted on the bulletin board.
Responsive Classroom
Grades K-5
The Responsive Classroom is an educational approach that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth. This approach consists of classroom and school
wide practices for deliberately helping children build academic and social-emotional competencies. Morning Meeting, an aspect of the Responsive Classroom approach, provides a routine for children in which they can practice social skills and to merge social, emotional, and intellectual learning. The school counselor has trained staff members to use morning meeting in their classrooms.
Growing Up As Individuals in America (GAIA) Program
Grade 2
Each year a group of Princeton High School Peer Leaders come to Cranbury School to do a lesson with the second graders. The GAIA (Growing Up As Individuals in America) Peer Leaders focus in the topic of accepting differences. The counselor goes into each second grade class to do a follow up lesson.
Finger Knitting Project
Grades 2 & 3
Each year, the second grade students are introduced to finger knitting as a strategy for increasing attentions and decreasing stress. Third graders are brought to the second grade class to help teach this project.
Elms Nursing Home Visit and Holiday Greetings
Grade 4
Each year at Halloween the counselor accompanies the fourth graders to the Elms Nursing Home so the residents can see the students in their costumes. In preparation for this visit the counselor, conducts a lesson with the fourth grade students to prepare them for the visit.
Grades K-8
Each year for Halloween, Christmas/Hanukkah, and Valentine’s the students make placemats for the residents of the Elms Nursing Home.
Conflict Resolution
GRADES 3&8
The eighth grade Peer Leaders are trained by the school counselor to teach conflict resolution skills to all of the third grade classes. The skills that they cover are: Cooling off: ways to deal with anger, using “I” messages to express feelings, active listening, taking responsibility for your actions, and brainstorming solutions. The Peer Leaders are then available as Peer Mediators for the intermediate grades.
Mix It Up Day
GRADES 5-8
Mix It Up Day is annual event intended to make schools more inclusive and welcoming for all students. During this day, students have the opportunity to sit with someone different during lunch. Peer Leaders are involved in the planning and we try to mix it up different ways each year.
HiTOPS Sexual Harassment Workshop
GRADE 6
The goals of this program are: to help students become more assertive and to be clear about behaviors they don't like, and to appreciate the effect their behavior has on others. Students will learn how to define sexual harassment and explore the differences between flirting and harassment. They will look at different behaviors
and place them on a continuum from “flirting” to “harassment” to “assault” and will be given specific strategies for what to do if they or a friend are experiencing sexual harassment. This workshop will be led by the HiTOPS adult educators.
Circle of Power and Respect
GRADES 6-8
The Circle of Power and Respect is a whole-group gathering for the middle school students that can take place during advisor/advisee period or in an academic
classroom setting. The format is similar to the morning meeting, but is geared for upper grade students. This program is intended to create a safe place where middle school students can meet face to face and build trust and strong relationships. The school counselor has trained staff members to use the Circle of Power and Respect during Advisor/Advisee.
Advisor/Advisee Program
GRADES 6-8
On Thursday mornings, each homeroom group of students and their two advisors meet for 25 minutes to discuss various topics such as school adjustment, peer
relationships, and personal values. During Advisor/Advisee period the homerooms are involved in Buddy Classes, Student Council Business and the Circle of Power and Respect. The counselor provides Circle of Power and Respect Lessons for the teachers.
Career Day
GRADES 6-8
Parents and other member of the greater Cranbury community speak for four half hour sessions about their career paths. Students hear preferences on four of their top career preferences. In addition, as part of the Career Day program, upper grade students begin the day by attending a keynote session. The three year cycle includes lessons designed to align with 21st Century Life and Career Skills (see appendix) which will take place during Advisor/Advisee periods. This year as a pilot project, sixth graders will be introduced to a career portfolio. This portfolio will follow the students though middle school and will include work completed through the 21st Century Life and Career Skills lessons.
Cranbury Connect
GRADES 6-8
Cranbury Connect is a tutoring program for middle school students that is provided by Princeton High School students. It takes place on Wednesday after school each week throughout the school year and it is coordinated by the school counselor.
Celebrating Diversity Program
GRADE 8
All eighth graders will participate in a weeklong workshop entitled “Celebrating Diversity” which focuses on accepting and respecting the differences in others. Student group work demonstrates what they learned from the program.
HiTOPS / TAG /PHS Peer Group Leaders
GRADE 8
Throughout the year the counselor is involved in coordinating various programs for the students. The eighth graders participate in the TAG, HiTOPS and PHS Peer Group Leaders programs. TAG is a program that is led by the Teen Advisory Group of the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance. The TAG group is comprised of high school juniors and seniors from several high schools in the area. The focus of this program is to give the students an opportunity to meet with local high school students and informally discuss issues dealing with substance abuse. HiTOPS (Health Interested Teens Own Program on Sexuality) is a program that is also led by area high school students and the goals of this program are: to help students identify the risks associated with sexual involvement, to discuss the pressures that influence young people’s sexual behavior, and to learn how to use “Refusal Skills” which say “no” to sexual pressure. The PHS Peer Group Leaders are seniors from Princeton High School who meet annually with the 8th graders in a small group setting to answer questions about high school and to provide transition support.
Rising Above I and II
GRADE 8
Each year the 8th graders are invited to John Witherspoon Middle School to participate in Rising Above in the fall and the spring. This trip provides an opportunity for eighth graders from Cranbury and Princeton to get to know one another through socialization activities that emphasize respecting diversity and understanding values.
Vocational School Visit
Grade 8
The school counselor coordinates a visit by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School to help Cranbury Students be more aware of the opportunities available in vocational education.
Mandala Wall Tile Project
Grade 8
Each year the eighth graders create Mandalas in art class. The counselor has created a partnership with the Cranbury Arts Council to secure funding for this project. Each year, the counselor works with the art teacher, tile company, and tile installer to have this wall mural continued.
Buddy Classes
GRADES K-8
All upper grade and lower grade classes are matched as buddy classes. The students have an opportunity to meet occasionally during Advisor/Advisee Period and at other designated times set aside during the school year. The students read together, do projects, have morning meeting, play games and have lots of fun together.
“Did You Know” Bulletin Board
Grades K-8
Mrs. Charwin and Mrs. Sara Fernandez, Middle School Social Studies Teacher, work together to create a student recognition bulletin board on a monthly basis. Students “out of school” accomplishments are highlighted on this bulletin board. Names are submitted by teachers and students. Eighth grade reporters create a write up for each student highlighted on the bulletin board.
Responsive Classroom
Grades K-5
The Responsive Classroom is an educational approach that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth. This approach consists of classroom and school
wide practices for deliberately helping children build academic and social-emotional competencies. Morning Meeting, an aspect of the Responsive Classroom approach, provides a routine for children in which they can practice social skills and to merge social, emotional, and intellectual learning. The school counselor has trained staff members to use morning meeting in their classrooms.
Growing Up As Individuals in America (GAIA) Program
Grade 2
Each year a group of Princeton High School Peer Leaders come to Cranbury School to do a lesson with the second graders. The GAIA (Growing Up As Individuals in America) Peer Leaders focus in the topic of accepting differences. The counselor goes into each second grade class to do a follow up lesson.
Finger Knitting Project
Grades 2 & 3
Each year, the second grade students are introduced to finger knitting as a strategy for increasing attentions and decreasing stress. Third graders are brought to the second grade class to help teach this project.
Elms Nursing Home Visit and Holiday Greetings
Grade 4
Each year at Halloween the counselor accompanies the fourth graders to the Elms Nursing Home so the residents can see the students in their costumes. In preparation for this visit the counselor, conducts a lesson with the fourth grade students to prepare them for the visit.
Grades K-8
Each year for Halloween, Christmas/Hanukkah, and Valentine’s the students make placemats for the residents of the Elms Nursing Home.
Conflict Resolution
GRADES 3&8
The eighth grade Peer Leaders are trained by the school counselor to teach conflict resolution skills to all of the third grade classes. The skills that they cover are: Cooling off: ways to deal with anger, using “I” messages to express feelings, active listening, taking responsibility for your actions, and brainstorming solutions. The Peer Leaders are then available as Peer Mediators for the intermediate grades.
Mix It Up Day
GRADES 5-8
Mix It Up Day is annual event intended to make schools more inclusive and welcoming for all students. During this day, students have the opportunity to sit with someone different during lunch. Peer Leaders are involved in the planning and we try to mix it up different ways each year.
HiTOPS Sexual Harassment Workshop
GRADE 6
The goals of this program are: to help students become more assertive and to be clear about behaviors they don't like, and to appreciate the effect their behavior has on others. Students will learn how to define sexual harassment and explore the differences between flirting and harassment. They will look at different behaviors
and place them on a continuum from “flirting” to “harassment” to “assault” and will be given specific strategies for what to do if they or a friend are experiencing sexual harassment. This workshop will be led by the HiTOPS adult educators.
Circle of Power and Respect
GRADES 6-8
The Circle of Power and Respect is a whole-group gathering for the middle school students that can take place during advisor/advisee period or in an academic
classroom setting. The format is similar to the morning meeting, but is geared for upper grade students. This program is intended to create a safe place where middle school students can meet face to face and build trust and strong relationships. The school counselor has trained staff members to use the Circle of Power and Respect during Advisor/Advisee.
Advisor/Advisee Program
GRADES 6-8
On Thursday mornings, each homeroom group of students and their two advisors meet for 25 minutes to discuss various topics such as school adjustment, peer
relationships, and personal values. During Advisor/Advisee period the homerooms are involved in Buddy Classes, Student Council Business and the Circle of Power and Respect. The counselor provides Circle of Power and Respect Lessons for the teachers.
Career Day
GRADES 6-8
Parents and other member of the greater Cranbury community speak for four half hour sessions about their career paths. Students hear preferences on four of their top career preferences. In addition, as part of the Career Day program, upper grade students begin the day by attending a keynote session. The three year cycle includes lessons designed to align with 21st Century Life and Career Skills (see appendix) which will take place during Advisor/Advisee periods. This year as a pilot project, sixth graders will be introduced to a career portfolio. This portfolio will follow the students though middle school and will include work completed through the 21st Century Life and Career Skills lessons.
Cranbury Connect
GRADES 6-8
Cranbury Connect is a tutoring program for middle school students that is provided by Princeton High School students. It takes place on Wednesday after school each week throughout the school year and it is coordinated by the school counselor.
Celebrating Diversity Program
GRADE 8
All eighth graders will participate in a weeklong workshop entitled “Celebrating Diversity” which focuses on accepting and respecting the differences in others. Student group work demonstrates what they learned from the program.
HiTOPS / TAG /PHS Peer Group Leaders
GRADE 8
Throughout the year the counselor is involved in coordinating various programs for the students. The eighth graders participate in the TAG, HiTOPS and PHS Peer Group Leaders programs. TAG is a program that is led by the Teen Advisory Group of the Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance. The TAG group is comprised of high school juniors and seniors from several high schools in the area. The focus of this program is to give the students an opportunity to meet with local high school students and informally discuss issues dealing with substance abuse. HiTOPS (Health Interested Teens Own Program on Sexuality) is a program that is also led by area high school students and the goals of this program are: to help students identify the risks associated with sexual involvement, to discuss the pressures that influence young people’s sexual behavior, and to learn how to use “Refusal Skills” which say “no” to sexual pressure. The PHS Peer Group Leaders are seniors from Princeton High School who meet annually with the 8th graders in a small group setting to answer questions about high school and to provide transition support.
Rising Above I and II
GRADE 8
Each year the 8th graders are invited to John Witherspoon Middle School to participate in Rising Above in the fall and the spring. This trip provides an opportunity for eighth graders from Cranbury and Princeton to get to know one another through socialization activities that emphasize respecting diversity and understanding values.
Vocational School Visit
Grade 8
The school counselor coordinates a visit by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School to help Cranbury Students be more aware of the opportunities available in vocational education.
Mandala Wall Tile Project
Grade 8
Each year the eighth graders create Mandalas in art class. The counselor has created a partnership with the Cranbury Arts Council to secure funding for this project. Each year, the counselor works with the art teacher, tile company, and tile installer to have this wall mural continued.