• Category 3

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - pre k
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 65,091
    Student Enrollment: 738
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 16%
    White/Caucasian: 34%
    Hispanic: 29%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 1%
    Asian: 13%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 6%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:16
    % Reduced Lunch: 70%
    % ELL Learners: 32%
    Founded: 1930
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Mrs. Maureen Brown
  • CONTACT:
    101 West 56th Street
    Bayonne, NJ 07002
    201-858-5996
    Maubrown@bboed.org
Woodrow Wilson Community School
Bayonne, NJ
Understanding a child’s ability first is the key to our success."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
WWCS prides itself on providing students with the tools necessary to accomplish their personal and professional goals. We house over 740 students, and 200 staff members. Students are encouraged to work hard & praised for their efforts. As part of a district with 60% of its population deemed economically disadvantaged, we pride ourselves on providing a safe, inclusive learning environment. Our Title 1 teachers work on pushing into each classroom and providing the necessary services to ensure all of our students have access to learning. Our school motto has always been “The Sun is Always Shining.” We press upon our students that no matter the kind of day you have, the sun is always shining in our school. Our Choose Kind campaign has allowed us to teach our learners the importance of being supportive, respectful & accepting of ALL others. We have had many accomplishments throughout the years & were chosen as one of America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for Healthier Generation.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
The greatest contributing factor implementing change is the support/committment from the staff. Recognizing that change is a process & not something to be done in one year is key! Involving staff in the process of reconstruction & asking for their input with regards to implementation methods provides a deeper appreciation for the vision & deep rooted pride for the school. Teachers began recognizing the benefits of including the students in the creation of classroom rules carefully addressing concepts like cooperation, kindness & sharing. The class collectively writes a code of conduct that reflects those positive behaviors and encourages traits like respect, fairness & empathy. When teachers and students participate in the rule making process, they feel ownership which leads to school pride. Creating positive change in the classroom (recognizing student achievements, acknowledging students who perform random acts of kindness) are some factors that have led to student achievement.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
WWCS is a schoolwide Title1 school. ESEA funding allows 2 full-time, push-in Title 1Teachers so they can provide MTSS. Professional development for these teachers is also supported. Multiple parent workshops are conducted after school throughout the year. With these funds, we have created a Parent Resource Center where parents can borrow books & supplies to use at home to work with their children. A roving cart filled with books of different genres for students to borrow is available to all students, parents & teachers.
Supplies that have been purchased with ESEA funds include, but are not limited to: manipulatives, games, graphic organizers, magnetic boards, letter tiles, subscriptions, 2 iPad carts with educational Apps & Elmo cameras for classrooms. After school tutoring is available in ELA or Math in grades 3-8. Funding has provided technology in the form of assessments which are a KEY component in disaggregating important data and providing necessary targeted instruction.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Our teachers must attend a minimum of 20 hours of professional development per year. Though most of the PD relates to academics & new curriculum implementation, we also address social emotional & safety needs of both the staff and students. PD is also provided for the interpretation of data as much of our instruction is driven by assessment results.Teachers differentiate their lessons to provide smaller, more intimate group instruction. Understanding a child’s ability first, is the key to our success. Interpreting data allows us to understand the various levels of our learners & instruction is driven based on that analysis. Teachers are used as facilitators in the classroom, as the generalized “teacher teaching, student just listening” methods are dated and proven ineffective. All of our learners are provided with guidance to be creative, and enhance their knowledge by having enrichment opportunities. Our goal is to support this new method of instruction through staff PD.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Woodrow Wilson has 736 students and over 200 staff members. With a very high population of autistic children, we have built a community of acceptance centered around our school’s slogan “ChooseKind”
We have found that one of the most important strategies for creating a positive classroom is simply a positive attitude. Each morning the staff receives a positive inspirational quote from the principal. Many of the teachers have copied this practice noting that it sets the appropriate tone with the students. “Detention” has been totally eliminated and in the event a student needs to be removed, they are escorted to the guidance office where mindfulness practices occur.
As you walk through the hallways you can hear the teachers ask “Was that choosing kind?”(student accountability) We believe this form of communication & not yelling creates a more positive learning environment & provides opportunities for success. Visibility by the administrators also contributes to building family trust.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
Bayonne is a tight-knit community, where each school in the district (11) works together with a team approach. Ideas are communicated to all stakeholders. School culture and climate surveys were distributed to the community, staff, and students, and in turn the school acted on the various responses. Our mission daily is to make sure our students and staff are happy and safe physically & emotionally. There are plenty of community resources available to assist those in need with food & clothing. The City Council works closely with the school system and often attends individual school functions. The Mayor invites the student council to his chambers and conducts a brief meeting with them listening to the concerns of the students. WW has a very special relationship with the senior citizen center and many activities are coordinated throughout the year. Holidays are often spent hearing about the "olden days" from our greatest primary sources; our seniors.
Stats
  • Category 3

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - pre k
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 65,091
    Student Enrollment: 738
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 16%
    White/Caucasian: 34%
    Hispanic: 29%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 1%
    Asian: 13%
    Native American: 1%
    Other: 6%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:16
    % Reduced Lunch: 70%
    % ELL Learners: 32%
    Founded: 1930
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Mrs. Maureen Brown
  • CONTACT:
    101 West 56th Street
    Bayonne, NJ 07002
    201-858-5996
    Maubrown@bboed.org