Dear Parents/Guardians and Children,

Built in 1958, the Heights Elementary School is the largest and oldest of Oakland's elementary schools. During the 2008 - 2009 school year, Heights enrolled some 431 students in Kindergarten through Grade Five. The teachers, secretaries, custodians and support staff are dedicated to a child-centered philosophy that promotes the social and emotional, as well as the academic development of our children. The developmental needs of children are taken into account during their progression through the grades.

Both the third and fourth graders at Heights School continue to score at high levels of proficiency on all sections of the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK). It is evident that teachers, curriculum coordinators, and administrators work diligently to ensure that the local curriculum is aligned to the new Jersey Core Curriculum Standards, and mandates that are contained within the No Child Left Behind legislation. The results of this year’s assessment clearly reflect the commitment of the entire school community.

We are proud of our strong home/school partnership - the backbone of a successful school and well-balanced students. Our PTO works with our staff to provide enrichment programs based on collaboratively determined needs and interests. Our parents are intent on exposing our children to diverse experiences in music, art, and the cultural arts. To this end, during the school year the PTO provides an eclectic array of special cultural arts programs for the children. Some of the "for fun" experiences that our PTO sponsors for children and parents include our annual Simple Supper, a "student fun evening" and our famous Heights Rock Cafe. These special events are always well attended by our school community.

In addition to cultural and “fun” experiences, our PTO partnership continues to yield a commitment to the infusion of technology into our curriculum. Our PTO has donated five Smart Boards, and several sets of laptop computers that are used in the classrooms to expose children to the information highway that exists in our global world. Through the use of this tool, children are able to do research in a supervised setting and produce projects that they would otherwise be unable to do. In addition to the laptops, the PTO has also donated digital equipment for use with the computers.

Our Student Council sponsors several fund raisers throughout each school year to benefit those in need. During the 2007 - 2008 the Student Council sponsored a Halloween Unicef Collection through which over $300 was donated. In November, they conducted a Thanksgiving Food Drive. Multiple cartons of dry goods were donated to The Women’s Club of Oakland. In December, the Smile Train purchased 2 smiles for children for $250 each. In January, MLK honored with cards and treats for soldiers overseas. In February, the proceeds from the School Store were donated for autism research. During the month of March, Women’s History was remembered through the organization of a bulletin board highlighting the accomplishments of famous women though out history. In April, the students conducted an Arbor Day Tree Drive, planting saplings throughout Oakland.

Heights students are involved at the fourth grade level in recorder and strings ensemble and at the fifth grade in chorus and orchestra programs. Our Grade Five students always put on an end of the year musical production which consistently receives rave reviews. This endeavor has students, staff, and community involvement from its inception to its closing night. Field trips at each grade level support the curriculum, thus enhancing the learning experience for the children.
Each year our physical education department coordinates the amazing Heights Olympics, which is predicated on the original Greek games. Students develop team spirit, good sportspersonship, and a sense of community through this unique event. Every other school year, Heights implements "Scooterville." This unique program teaches the principles of traffic safety through the physical education program. To enhance our global perspective, we have a student exchange with the community's New Jersey Japanese School. This partnership provides our students with a first hand look at a different culture.

In keeping with our global perspective, our district promotes an outstanding Global Education Program that follows the children from our elementary school to the Middle School through the implementation of thematic units at each grade level. In the spring of 2005, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators and New Jersey's Regional Office of The Anti-Defamation League announced that the Oakland Public Schools' Global Education Project had been selected to receive the 2005 Aaron Flanzbaum 21st Century Democratic Heritage Award. Our district is extremely proud of this honor.

Our school goals are always predicated on the needs of our students. For the 2008 - 2009 school year, our first goal is to have the children ßßßdemonstrate and increased awareness and understanding of Technological Literacy. Our second goal is to implement the new Language Arts Curriculum that was revisited and revised over the summer. These goals are fostered throughout the school year, using a variety of strategies and teaching tools. Please discuss them with your children to see their progress.

It is with great enthusiasm that the Heights School Community embraces each new year. We - teachers, support staff, parents, and administrators - look forward to reaching new heights while working collaboratively to ensure that each child receives an excellent education, while developing him/herself to be the very best person that she/he can be, in a safe environment that promotes lifelong learning, fun, and personal growth..


With best regards,
Barbara A. Ciambra
Principal