Valley Road School Fourth Graders Meet Their New Teacher

This press release was submitted by the Clark School District.

Fourth grade students and their parents at the Valley Road School in Clark had the opportunity to meet their new fourth grade teacher, Ms. Christine Cemelli, at an evening Meet and Greet on Monday Evening, 27 August.

Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Knops, Director of Curriculum Ed Grande, and Valley Road School Principal Joseph Beltramba facilitated the evening, where a packed room of over 20 fourth graders and their parents had the opportunity to meet their new teacher.

Knops began the evening by thanking all the parents in attendance for their ongoing support of their child’s education and the Clark Public Schools.  He congratulated the educational community on the attainment of Arthur L. Johnson High School reaching Top 40 Status of 328 public high schools in New Jersey, according to New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s 2012 rating of public schools.  Knops mentioned that the high school had been ranked #101 two years ago, he credited the impressive jump on district parents and their orientation and support of education.  Knops then explained in detail the interview process to the parents in attendance, which included the District receiving 401 applications for the leave replacement position and administration interviewing a total of 30 of these applicants in a first round of interviews, followed by a second round of interviews with 7 finalists.  He then introduced Ms. Cemelli to all those in attendance, highlighting her academic record, certifications, student teaching experiences, and hobbies and interests.  Ms. Cemelli is a 2012 graduate of Towson University in Maryland, where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, earning a quality cumulative grade point average of 3.625. While at Towson University, Ms. Cemelli was named to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was awarded membership to the Golden Key International Honor Society, a society open to the Top 15% of the graduating class.  Ms. Cemelli gained experience as a Student/Intern Teacher of Grades One, Two, and Five. 

After Knops’s introduction, Ms. Cemelli  highlighted a colorful and animated Power Point Presentation she created for all in attendance, highlighting her background, educational philosophy, past educational experiences, hobbies and interests, and contact information.  .  A brief question and answer session then took place, followed by Ms. Zampella chatting individually with the fourth graders and their parents as a means of getting to know each family individually. 

In commenting on the Meet and Greet, Superintendent Kenneth Knops remarked, “The evening was an outstanding success, with our incoming fourth grade students  and their parents having the opportunity to meet their leave replacement teacher.  Two years ago we started a program called Move-Up Day where students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade district wide meet their next year’s teachers and classmates on the final day of the school year.  Seeing over 50 people in the library this evening to attend the Meet and Greet underscored our community’s support of our schools and instructional program, a phenomena that makes our school district a very special place.  I am grateful to our parents and guardians for all they do to support our schools and initiatives.  I feel that Ms. Cemelli will be a wonderful asset to both Valley Road School and the Clark School District.