Welcome to the DRIDON Learning Experience ... !
We Teach. We Motivate Students to Learn. We Make Learning Practical. We Create Thinkers, Leaders, Not Followers. We're DRIDON.
Summer Camp 2 begins July 27 ...!
What is an ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMP!!
An Academic Summer Camp is a summer camp focused on a variety of learning activities designed to help students excel in school. The primary activities among these include teaching and reinforcing core curriculum subjects such as Mathematics, English Reading, English Writing, or other areas of specialty or interest; developing individual learning styles; instilling "hands-on" / interactive learning; building mastery of subject-matter per grade level, all geared towards to boosting confidence, academic performance, the motivation to learn, communication and social skills.
Academic Summer Camps can play a vital role in a child's youthful life. A good academic summer camp fosters continuity in learning and helps bridge the academic gap that thousands of school-aged children experience transitioning from the end of the spring term to the beginning of the fall. Academic camps also provide an informal learning environment where students, for the most part, feel less pressured, display increased motivation to learn and, as a result, are more engaged, intuitively, Camps are also a great environment for children to learn new and exciting skills. Finally, summer camps--not merely academic ones--provide for greater social interaction between children from various backgrounds and communities.
At DRIDON, we thrive to achieve and exceed all of the above elements by offering our students a comprehensively unique educational opportunity that is conducive to reinforcing and advancing their knowledge base. What this means is that for every advance made, a new challenge awaits.
No child should be held back because he/she is "gifted" or has a stronger-than-normal desire and/or ability to learn.
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While our program is primarily focused on academics, it also provides students with the opportunity to advance their knowledge and experiences by way of a variety of enrichment programs, interactive learning and extracurricular activities. Such activities do include educational field trips, music lessons, learning a new language, and the highlight of this year’s summer camp: Computer Programming (“Coding”), just to name a few.
Indeed, our Academic Summer program is divided into grade-level categories. Our Pre-Elementary School program caters for children who will be entering Grades K-3; our Elementary program caters for students entering Grades 4-6; our Juniors’ program is designed for students scheduled to enter in Grades 7-8; and, our Seniors’ program is specific to students entering or who are in Grades 9-11. Each program provides your child ample opportunities to focus on his/her studies, learn a new skill or language and, at the same time, have an enjoyable summer. Enrollment is limited. Parents are urged apply early.
"We invite The Oranges, Maplewood, Milburn and surrounding areas to join us this season for what is slated to be a fabulous summer camp."
Computer Coding Takes Center Stage ...
Learn from the Best!
This year, for the first time, we will be offering computer programming to Day Camp enrollees--that is, students enrolled in our Academic Day Camp. This is a fun-filled, innovative class. Students learn introductory computing programming, such as how to recreate Pong and Pacman or write Tic Tac Toe, using Python from Raspberry Pi. The class also dives into an array of exciting software and hardware projects. Projects include creating an information center for e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, weather, train times, and more. It also walks you through setting up computer-controlled slot car racing, a swipe card door lock, disco lights, and more. Students learn introductory computing programming, such as how to recreate Pong and Pacman or write Tic Tac Toe, using Python from Raspberry Pi. The class also dives into an array of exciting software and hardware projects. Projects include creating an information center for e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, weather, train times, and more. It also walks you through setting up computer-controlled slot car racing, a swipe card door lock, disco lights, and more.
News in Education ...
NJ Schools Ranking 2015
Check back soon.
| Ranked | School | |
| Statewide | Nationwide |
|
| 1 | 19 | BIOTECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, Freehold |
| 2 | 20 | HIGH TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, Lincroft |
| 3 | 31 | BERGEN COUNTY TECH HIGH SCHOOL, Teterboro |
| 4 | 43 | MCNAIR HIGH SCHOOL, Jersey City |
| 5 | 119 | BERGEN COUNTY ACADEMIES, Hackensack |
| 8 | 147 | NORTH STAR ACADEMY CHARTER, Newark |
| 10 | 225 | ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL, Elizabeth |
| 14 | 303 | MILLBURN HIGH SCHOOL, Milburn |
| 21 | 396 | LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL, Livingston |
| 48 | 1503 | MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL, Montclair |
| 53 | 1864 | TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, Newark |
| 56 | 2188 | UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, Newark |
| 57 | 2198 | LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL, Jersey City |
| The above schools are Gold or Silver recipients. | ||
NJ Abolishes NJASK, HSPA for PARCC
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a collection of states that have joined forces to develop a set of universal assessments that measure student performance/achievement and whether or not students are on track to be successful in college and in their careers.
PARCC focuses on assessing students in K–12 in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. New Jersey adopted PARCC in 2014. PARCC is aligned to the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) and was created to measure students' ability to apply their knowledge of concepts rather than memorizing facts, something we, at DRIDON, have been advocating for, for many, many years! "Learn to know, not merely to pass."
PARCC attempts to tear down the geographic location or socio-economic status of students, leveling the path to college and careers for all students. This approach to educating students has been written in DRIDON's philosophy statement, and practiced, for over two decades. "We are happy that finally some states, like New Jersey, have come full circle with realizing the fact that, with immense global competition now an irreversible reality, "teaching students merely to pass an exam" is no longer an option.
Likewise, we have stood firm in our belief that "social promotion" is also not an option in the new world environment.
PARCC will give teachers, schools, students, and parents better information whether students are on track in their learning and for success after high school, and tools to help teachers customize learning to meet student needs.
"If PARCC works, remedial courses should be phased out (if not expunged) from our institutes of HIGHER learning."
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PARCC will measure students' ability to apply their knowledge of concepts rather than memorizing facts.
PARCC will give teachers, schools, students, and parents better information whether students are on track in their learning and for success after high school, and tools to help teachers customize learning to meet student needs.
According to NJ State web site, it took 3 years of transition "to provide local districts and school the time necessary to shift practices and prepare students and educators for new tests designed to measure the CCSS." That transition is now complete. This year, the PARCC assessments replaced NJASK (grades 3-8) and HSPA (high school).
Our next article will explore how PARCC could impact educators, students and higher learning.
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"Let Us Prepare You for the SATs.
Call Now. Sign up today!"
SAT Redesigned, Again ...
The College Board will launch the new, redesigned SAT in 2016. With this launch, there will be key feature changes made to the present SAT. The essay will be optional. Also, if you do decide to write the essay, you would have an additional 5 minutes of composing time. Critical-based Reading will now be renamed "Evidence-based Reading". Vocabulary words will be tested more in their extended contexts. In addition, points will not be deducted for incorrect answers and leaving an answer blank will have no impact on a student's score.
TThe scoring range will be lowered from 600 to 2400 down to 400 to 1600. The scoring range for Mathematics will remain constant, but that of the essay will be reduced from 200 to 800 down to 2 to 8 on each of the three traits for Essay. Time allotments will also change. Presently, the time allowed for Mathematics is 70 minutes (to work on 54 questions. On the Redesigned SAT, Math will receive 80 minutes and 58 questions.
For more information about SAT Prep Program, call or email us.
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DRIDON's Community Outreach Campaign
Education Should be on Every Family's List of High Priority Goals
"Like Us, Tweet Us, Meet Us"™
DRIDON Professional Staff will be attending the following event(s) on July 26, 2015:
1. Attend Church Services in Orange, NJ,
2. Church Visits in Irvington, NJ,
DRIDON
Educators & Promoters of Education for All
since 1994
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John Nash (06/13/28-05/23/15)
"Thank you, Dr. John Nash! You have
given the world so much in Mathematics and Economics, yet have asked for so little. Our condolences to your surviving family. The teaching of, and the pursuit of discoveries in, Mathematics shall continue." ... Professor Edwards, DRIDON
ONE STUDENT WROTE of her Math professor: "When I heard it on the news, I was so sad, where as before your class [having taken Professor Edwards' math class], I don't think it [Nash's death] would have affected me... Few professors have made such an impact in my life... I just want to say thank you for the wisdom you imparted .. And for teaching with passion. Students complained.. And wanted everyone to join in with the complain, but I told them I have had awful professors .. And I think prof Edwards is not.. I believe those people missed some of the golden nuggets you were trying to give us. I pray you never get discouraged by the few. You are expanding minds... Changing lives. Even the overly crowded exams make sense now... Lol. Thank you.. Those who got it, appreciate you."
The information posted herein is for general reference. Call or email us for specific information. All of the above stated standardized examinations (pSAT, SAT, GED, ectc.) are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective governing or administering organizations. These organizations are in no way affiliated with DRIDON nor is any party to the production, posting or endorsement of information herein.