A+ Ideas, Programs, and Practices

Improving the well-being of families is the goal of this program in Maurice River Township. Through a partnership with the Family Strengthening Network, the program works to increase family engagement and meet the needs of the community. The program offers free, personal and confidential sessions with a trained family advocate, who helps families develop a … Continued

The North Plainfield Forum brings together community leaders who represent businesses, civic organizations, police, the schools, social service entities and religious organizations, all for one purpose: To strengthen the North Plainfield community. The groups share information and, together, collaborate, coordinate, promote and encourage each other. The Forum meets the first Thursday of each month, and … Continued

Preschool providers from throughout the Somerville area are invited each spring to discuss best practices, share Kindergarten expectations and articulate ideas during the district’s “Kindergarten Summit.” The program benefits early education for Somerville students, by bringing together their preschool providers. The session highlights effective components, as well as areas of weakness, in preschools. It also … Continued

The Eastampton Community School marks Veterans’ Day with an inter-generational experience and history lesson, rolled into one. Every year, during the week of Veterans’ Day, the school invites veterans from the community to share their stories with students, during inter-generational interviews. The veterans, spanning World War II through the Global War on Terror, and representing … Continued

At Three Bridges School in Readington, students believe they can save the world. And they plan to do it through sustainability. The elementary school has made a conscious effort to follow sustainable practices, teaching students, staff, parents and the community how to “green” their world and reduce their carbon footprint. These efforts earned the school … Continued

The Summerfield Elementary School earned its reputation as a green school early on: The year after it was built in 2006, the K-5 school was honored as the first New Jersey public school to earn a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification, for its energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and other sustainable … Continued

Land that was formerly used for growing corn is now the home of a solar power system that will provide “green” power to meet the need of the entire Franklin Township School. The steady yearly cost is less than the current price of electricity. The Power Purchase Solar Array has a battery back-up system, so … Continued

  At Cape May County Technical High School, students are learning by helping save ospreys. Working in an outdoor classroom of marsh and inland waterways, with biologists from the state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, students have helped gather essential information on the county’s osprey population. Students monitor a particular area of the salt … Continued

At the Tighe School in Margate, students and their families are cultivating their knowledge about sustainability, and putting roots down in the community, by growing a vegetable garden. The garden was started in 2006 by a local restaurateur and community activist, and was awarded a grant by the New Jersey Agricultural Society. A group of … Continued

Two New Jersey schools have been chosen by the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization that is committed to forging a prosperous and sustainable future, to help create the blueprint for other schools nationwide to go “green.” In October 2014, the U.S. Green Building Council selected P.S. 5 in Jersey City and Perth Amboy … Continued