Classroom Close-up, NJ, for September
On NJN Public Television
Mondays at 6:30 pm and Saturdays at 7 am

STATEWIDE – Classroom Close-up, NJ is an original monthly NJN program that features students, teachers and community members who develop and participate in creative and successful school programs. Classroom Close-Up, NJ is a co-production of NJN and the NJ Education Association. Additional funding for the show is provided by NJEA, PSE&G, Bristol-Myers Squibb and NJ FamilyCare. Classroom Close-up, NJ can also be seen on NJN’s digital channel; please check the web site at njn.net for dates and times.

Monday, September 6, at 6:30 pm ; Saturday, September 11, at 7 am

• Arts Festival – Students at Dawes Avenue School in Somers Point perform in a festival involving art, dance, culture and music from specific regions of the world. This year they will feature the Mediterranean cultures of Spain , France , Italy , Greece , Turkey and Israel .
• Lighthouse in My Backyard – A preservationist, parents and a local senior computer club will work with sixth graders on a lighthouse project at Sandman Consolidated School in Cape May . In addition to visiting the eleven lighthouses across the state, the students will hone their science, writing, technology and math skills while expanding their knowledge of lighthouses and their historical importance. The program is funded through a grant from the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education.
• Multicultural Education – Gloria Louis, a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School # 1 in Passaic , will showcase her students and their work on the African American History and Multicultural program. The students will display their artwork and cultural artifacts.
• In the Navy – As a computer teacher at East Brook Middle School in Paramus , Jane Cosco shows her students how to use technology for creative projects. After 9-11, the topics of the student PowerPoint projects focused on the heroic efforts of the first responders. Today the focus includes Americans involved in the war effort, specifically focusing on the Navy. See how the school projects have created a special bond between students and sailors.  

Monday, September 13, at 6:30 pm ; Saturday, September 18, at 7 am

• Our Pledge – Roger Rosenblatt, an essayist, author, and TV commentator, talks with students from Ocean Road Elementary in Point Pleasant. Rosenblatt, who has written books and articles on patriotism and war, discusses democracy, freedom and liberty, and the differences in children from other countries. Later, students perform a patriotic play based on the pledge of allegiance.
• R.E.A.L.I.F.E – Teachers at New Egypt Elementary in Plumsted Township created a program called Realistic Education and Learning in a Fun Environment. This project helps students who have special needs to discover their strengths in a fun, educational environment. The students explore friendships and experience a sense of belonging with families and their community. This program is funded through the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education.
• Gang Awareness - Ron Holvey , an expert on gang awareness for the State Department of Corrections, conducts training for schools around the state. He shares what to look for and what to do once the problem is identified.
• Heroes Garden – Students at Borough Elementary in Morris Plains honored several guests during a Veteran’s Day celebration, including a WWII Purple Heart recipient. The tribute included a stirring celebration in the student-created Heroes Garden , as a flag that once flew over the US Capitol was raised by the Marine color guard.

Monday, September 20, at 6:30 pm ; Saturday, September 25, at 7 am

• Disney Teacher - Dan Moran from East Brunswick High School shows why so many teachers love their profession. Dan was one of 32 honorees out of 185,000 nominees for the 2003 Disney’s American Teacher Awards. Moran’s enthusiasm for teaching is certainly contagious.
• Alice in Writer's Land – Imagine Alice with writer’s block. She meets characters that only hurt her quest to write, such as “run-on sentence,” “fragment,” and “double negative.” But other characters such as “noun,” “verb” and “adjective” help her find her way back home. This creative play written by Jim Marchesani is performed by the talented fifth graders of West Deptford Middle School .
• FAST - Burlington City Junior School participates in a program called FAST: Families and Schools Together Work for Children. This NJEA program is designed to encourage parental involvement in public schools. In Burlington , teachers work with parents on language, art and math to help parents help their kids with homework.

• To explain how FAST works in other communities across the state, host Joyce Powell is joined by Janet Morrison-Inniss, the NJEA director of the program, and teachers Loretta Bradley of Passaic, Rosalind Lewis-Adair and Gerri Burns of Roselle Borough. These educators are convinced that family involvement is the key to a successful school and improved student achievement.

Monday, September 27, at 6:30 pm ; Saturday, October 2, at 7 am

• Adopt-a-Stream - Four schools from the Egg Harbor Township School Di strict participate in the third Adopt-A-Stream/Catawba Project Jamboree. Students from Dr. Miller School, EHT Intermediate School , EHT Middle School and EHT High School learn all about falcons, quail, macro invertebrates, taxidermy and much more.
• Physical Education – Why is physical education an important part of a child’s education? James McCall, coordinator of Health and PE for the NJ Department of Education, explains why physical education helps children become healthier, and makes students better learners.
• Tech fitness - A perfect example of an excellent physical education program can be found in Michelle Hockenberry’s Middle Township Elementary class. See how technology plays an important role in today’s physical education classes.
• Intergalactic Poetry – Students at E.T Briggs School in Jefferson Township are turning their classroom into a spaceship with an intergalactic café. Refreshments/brunch will be served to parents who must read a poem as part of their admission. In turn, students must memorize and recite poems for their parents.