BRIGANTINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The Brigantine Elementary School services a multicultural enrollment of 500 students in preschool through grade four. The Mission Statement of our District that was developed by the Strategic Planning Committee reads, "The Mission of the Brigantine Elementary School is the development of productive, contributing citizens who will be prepared to take their places in society with the skills and knowledge necessary to nurture, perpetuate, and support the principles of American Democracy." In fulfilling this Mission, the school continued in 2007 to earn state and national educational honors for model programs and student achievement.

A major goal of the school's mission is to infuse character education into the curriculum to help children respect themselves and others. In 2007, the school programs received two more national and two state awards for exemplary programs in character education. In 2006, these same programs were selected by the Boyer Foundation as the #1 Best Practice in the United States. The award carried a $10,000.00 grant. Additionally, the school's character education program was the feature article in the 2006 August/September edition of the national Teaching K-8 Magazine.

In 2007, our fourth grade student's Quilt of Character won first place in New Jersey in a contest sponsored by Mission: Kindness International, Inc. The Brigantine Elementary School also was named the 2006 Kindest School in New Jersey for the fourth time by Mission: Kindness International, Inc. The school's "Kindness is Contagious" program was previously named a New Jersey Best Practice for character education and citizenship in 2004. We believe that high academic standards and ethical standards are inseparably connected.

Our students continue to do well academically. On the third and fourth grade Mathematics section of the New Jersey ASK 4 Test, 90.1% of all students tested were proficient with 28.5% in the advanced proficient category. In Language Literacy, 88.4% scored in the proficient category. On the Science ASK 4 Test, 95.9% of students were proficient with 52.6% scoring in the advanced proficient category.

One of the performance objectives for our students in 2007 was the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The school's G.Y.M.-Get Yourself Moving program earned the school the title of the 2007 Healthiest School in Atlantic County and a $5,000.00 grant in a contest sponsored by AtlantiCare. The program also received a 2006 New Jersey Best Practice award in the category of Health and Physical Education. This program is a multi-dimensional program of health, nutrition, and exercise aimed at combating childhood obesity, increasing children's desire to exercise and live healthy lifestyles. A first grade student also won $5,000.00 for the purchase of physical education equipment in a 2007 national contest promoting play and exercise.

The school has developed a program called A Multicultural, Cross-Curricular Approach to Arts Education which is a multilayered academic practice teaching cultural understanding and acceptance through the areas of art, music, physical education, language, library, and technology. Children in grades K-4 are exposed to multicultural experiences through year-long curriculum units per geographical location, immersed in history, culture, high academic standards, and ethical issues.

The Multicultural program is concluded each year with an enormous event called Arts Night where accomplishments are showcased. As this event is a colossal task (approximately 5,000 pieces of artwork are displayed, over 200 children perform in costume, and over 1500 friends and family attend), more than 200 community volunteers put it together. The program has earned two New Jersey Best Practice awards. In 2007, the school partnered with the International House of Blues to fund an artist-in-residence to support the arts programs.

In 2007, our students won third place in New Jersey in a contest sponsored by NJEA/Radio Disney for the number of books read per child. The school placed first in 2006.

The Student Council initiated a successful school-wide recycling program in cooperation with the Atlantic County Utility Authority. The project earned the school the 2007 Glitter Award presented by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. The Student Council also initiated many charitable endeavors including raising funds for many charities including, Jean Webster's Kitchen and Mission: Kindness International, Inc.

The school also prides itself on its Intergenerational Program that helps develop kindness and respect for grandparents and senior citizens. In 2007, our students captured many awards in Atlantic County out of 1,700 entrants from 20 schools in the Grandparents Day Contest in the categories of art, essays, photos, songwriting, and poetry.

The School continues to be a leader in technology. Through the Brigantine Elementary School Television [BEST] programs, students write, direct, and air daily telecasts to every classroom in the school producing outstanding informational and educational programs for our student body.

The administration and staff thank our children, parents, and members of the community for their exceptional involvement and support in helping our school earn state and national honors.

Contact Person: Donald A. Marrandino
Email: dmarrandino@mail.brigantine.atlnet.org




Donald Marrandino
609-264-9501