About Us


​​                               Definition of a 21st Century Community Learning Center

The vision for New Jersey’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Program is to develop high quality out-of-school time programs through community learning centers that provide services not just to the child but to the entire family. The goals of the 21st CCLC Programs are to:
  1. Increase students’ career and college readiness by offering high-quality remediation activities in core academic areas such as reading and mathematics, enrichment activities including arts and culture, youth development experience, and physical activity
  2. Increase positive student behavior by infusing social, emotional, and character development into the program;
  3. Engage adult family members of participating students through an array of parental involvement activities;
  4. Build partnerships and collaborative relationships to ensure participants’ access to all available resources

MEET OUR TEAM

Judy Cooper
Interim Coordinator - MAS
      Judy Harland
   Interim Coordinator - HMS

Andrea Johnson

Administrative Assistance
​
Merriam Ave. Site Coordinators
Jacquie Ferdenzi
      Anne Jhong
Hasted Middle School Site Coordinators
Eileen Fisher
Heather Sisco

Established in September 2018

Choose 2 Connect is the successor to Project Launch which was implemented from September 2013 until August 2018. We look forward to continuing the successful work of this program for our students. 

Our Goals

1. To provide high-quality educational and enrichment programs that will enable students to improve academic achievement and promote positive behavior and appropriate social interaction with peers and adults. 

2. To implement activities that promote parental involvement and provide opportunities for literacy and related educational development to the families of participating students. 

3. To measure participants' progress and program effectiveness through monitoring and evaluating. 

Our Core Values

  • Everyone is worthy of respect and compassion. 
  • Everyone belongs here.
  • Everyone works together to achieve. 
  • ​Everyone strives to see how someone else sees the world, especially when we do not agree.
​About the District
​Vision of Education
​Each and every student has inherent worth and value. All students are equal in dignity and all students can learn. The primary goal of the Newton Board of Education shall be to spark curiosity and love of learning that, when fanned by determination, cooperation, and resilience, forms a flame that will be the torch they carry to illumine their future paths to thrive socially, economically, and personally.

District Mission Statement

The mission of the Newton Public Schools is to educate, nurture, and care for the whole child.
We believe today's students represent the limitless possibilities of tomorrow. Therefore, it is our expectation that all students shall pursue excellence in all their actions and work to grow in virtue academically and personally, and graduate ready for college, careers, military, public service, and family life.
We believe success is an unlimited commodity, and every child can be successful. Therefore, we focus all that we do on student learning, whether that comes through academics, athletics, the arts, student activities, or community service.
We believe in the power of diversity within a shared purpose. Therefore, we look to identify and grow the unique talents of our students, while uniting together as one Newton community committed to the success of all.
We believe in the value of care. Therefore, we put trust, respect, and support at the heart of our school culture, and safety, security, and sustainability at the center of our physical environment.
We believe parents, teachers, support staff, and community members have a responsibility to collaborate, communicate, and care for each other. We also believe that these stakeholders must model excellence, both personally, and professionally, in order for children to grow in virtue and achieve their highest potential. Therefore we organize ourselves as community schools to ensure we allocate sufficient resources to the social, emotional, and physical well-being of our students as well as to their academic achievement.