FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 6/2/08

Contact: Regina Perry, Public Information Officer

               973-266-5339/Office

               Nicole Wigfall, Program Coordinator

973-266-5192/Office

               973-395-8927/Fax

The East Orange Water Commission & the Watershed Curriculum Leadership Team Sponsor Field Trip to East Orange Water Reserve

Short Hills, NJ - On Friday, May 16, 2008, 40 students from The East Orange Watershed Program took a field trip to the East Orange Water Reserve.  The students were from Sojourner Truth Middle School and were accompanied by 4 teachers; Ms. Rasmiyyah Baskerville, Ms. Josephine Foley, Mr. Sheldon Harris, and Ms. Lashonda Lewis. 

Through the efforts of Dr. Clarence C. Hoover, III, Superintendent of the East Orange School District, Dr. Helen Earles, Curriculum Developer and Information Research Specialist, Dr. Jennifer Robinson, Director of the Montclair State University Improving Teacher Quality Partnership (ITQP) Program and a distinguished Leadership Team within the East Orange School District, the Watershed Curriculum was created.  

The Leadership Team, directed by Mr. Vincent Stallings, Principal of Sojourner Truth Middle School, encompasses several academic disciplines – Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. The Students are learning the terms and definitions relevant to the water reserve and the watershed in order to write and to speak about the subject effectively (Science & Language Arts); the students are learning the impact of water on society (Social Studies); and they are learning about the transporting of the water to the municipality and into the residences (Math & Science).

Overall, the Curriculum focuses on the science of water and is designed to impart to the students that water is an essential resource.  The students are encouraged to be stewards of the water reserve, committed to preserve and to protect the precious resource it contains. To this end, the Leadership Team recognizes that the watershed is a unique classroom without walls, enabling the students to apply what they learn in the traditional classroom setting.  

The Curriculum is geared towards middle school students, and Sojourner Truth Middle School is the pilot site.  The field trip on May 16, 2008 was the initial introduction to the Reserve for the students.    After a brief introduction by Mr. Jerry Schierloh, an Environmental Specialist, the students received a tour of the pumping station by Mr. James Horvath, Superintendent of Water Intake & Supply.   The students were able to view the actual pumps and other machinery necessary to deliver the water to the municipality and its residents. 

After the tour, the students were taken to a staging area on the Reserve, next to the Canoe Brook Creek.  Mr. Schierloh set-up learning stations at this site to study the fauna, natural land formations, and the wildlife.  Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the planned activities/experiments for the afternoon were cancelled.  It was a great experience, despite the weather.    Another field trip will be scheduled to give the students the opportunity to participate in the activities/experiments.  We look forward to the next visit.

For additional information contact Harry Mansmann at 973.266.8869 ext. 101 

Mr. Schierloh welcoming the students and discussing the day’s activities.

Mr. Horvath giving the students a tour of the pumping station

Scenic view at the staging area next to Canoe Brook Creek

The students gather at the staging area next to Canoe Brook Creek

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Mr. Schierloh welcoming the students and discussing the day’s activities.

 

 

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