During the 1998-99 school year, the Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary (I.E.F.) School was nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School. Administration, faculty and the staff were awarded Blue Ribbon status for exemplifying true educational excellence. This tribute was based on a number of criteria including: outstanding leadership quality, expert faculty, exceptional student performance, strong curriculum, safe facilities, community involvement, and commitment to the goals of the school. The Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School – with its highly qualified staff and administrator – remains committed to all of these exemplary qualities.
Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School houses a preschool through grade three configuration. Additionally, a full-day Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) pre-school program is offered. An Integrated Pre-School program was developed and implemented for the 2011-12 school year. During the 2011-2012 school year, I.E.F. School’s student count totaled 394. For some years, student enrollment had risen steadily as housing developments were built and new families moved into Green Brook. However, current demographic studies indicate that the influx of new families to the school district will decrease – largely due to the current economic recession. Yet during the past ten years, the cultural diversity of the students/school community we serve has increased. In September 2005, Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School opened its doors for students to enter a state-of-the-art facility subsequent to a comprehensive reconstruction/refurbishing project. The building offers up-to-date technology such as its computer lab, at least three student computers per classroom, LCD projectors with audio/visual capabilities and SmartBoards. The teachers are also utilizing Power School, Power Teacher, and Atlas Rubicon technology.
Commitment to each student’s intellectual development is evident in district scores on state assessments and national achievement tests. Irene E. Feldkirchner School’s second grade students’ total battery scores on the Terra Nova Test of Basic Skills administered in the spring of 2012 average in the 92nd percentile in the Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics areas assessed. School and district goals testing data in the areas of math, language arts, science, social studies and the related arts average – percentage-wise – in the mid-nineties. Additionally, IEF School’s third grade students perform competitively in the NJ ASK3. Our special education students met AYP for four straight years (2008, 2009, 20010 and 2011)
Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School is extremely fortunate to have an active, supportive school community. The Parent Teacher Organization has made generous donations to support technology, libraries, and mini-grants to teachers. Parents’ efforts, combined with the support of the Board of Education, clearly exhibit the community’s commitment to provide a quality education to its students. Recent accolades for IEF School include a Bronze Award in the US Healthier Schools Challenge; a Golden Achievement Award for excellence in the school’s organization/presentation of the Way to K registration, orientation, and screening process; and a Certificate of Recognition from John’s Hopkins University for the school’s support of students with high academic potential.
I.E.F. School offers an extensive elementary education curriculum that includes: Language Arts Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Computer Literacy, Special Education, Physical Education, Health Education, Holocaust Curriculum, Children’s Designing & Engineering, English Language Learning programming, World Languages (French), Speech, Instructional Support programming, Library Skills, a comprehensive Guidance/Character Education program and a Gifted and Talented program. Children are also afforded opportunities to participate in Junior Achievement, Safety Patrols, NJ ASK3 Preparation afterschool offerings, Science/Curriculum Fair, theatrical presentations, intramural sports, computers, afterschool Science, Chess Club, Glee Club, Student Council, Gym Nights, Homework Club and a community service club (The CLUB at IEF). IEF School supports a variety of charitable organizations such as the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, The American Heart Association, Cancer Research, and a wide-variety of aid/disaster relief efforts.
The information contained within this narrative reveals that the Green Brook School District offers a quality educational program that emphasizes academic excellence, as well as social and emotional growth in a caring and nurturing environment.