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Penn Tech is the 2011 National Title I Distinguished School
The Pennsauken Campus of Camden County Technical Schools (Penn Tech) has been recognized as one of two schools in New Jersey to be designated a 2011 National Title I Distinguished School by the US Department of Education. This program is conducted by the National Association of State Title I Directors and recognizes schools that serve students who are economically disadvantaged and exhibit high levels of student achievement.
Penn Tech is being recognized for its hard work in helping students achieve adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years or more. Two schools per state are chosen by their state departments of education and their names are sent to the US Department of Education.
Each school will receive a monetary award of $10,000 and have the opportunity to attend the 2012 National Title I Conference to be held in Seattle, Washington from Jan. 21-24, 2012. A team of four staff members is invited to go on the trip, which is paid for by the federal government.
"We are very proud of our vocational technical schools," said Freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison to the County's two Vocational Technical schools. "They provide students with the opportunity to learn a trade or to prepare for college admission in a positive environment. This honor highlights how well Penn Tech's faculty, administration, students and parents have done their job."
"I was thrilled when I got the news earlier this week," said Dr. Albert Monillas, Superintendent of both County Votechs. "Penn Tech so deserves this recognition."
Penn Tech will be honored and recognized at the annual NJ Effective Practices Conference on March 30th, 2012 and the superintendent will be asked to make a presentation at that conference with the PennTech Team.
The school was recognized as being an outstanding example of Title I schools in NJ.
"This award reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty and staff, as well as the support of our parents," said Penn Tech Principal, Pat Fitzgerald. "I have been here for 25 years and am so proud to be a part of this school."
The NJ State Department of Education selected Penn Tech for the award presented by the US Department of Education. The selection process includes the schools' effectiveness in the following areas:
• Teaching and learning based on state curriculum
• Use of research-based instructional strategies
• Opportunities for all students to achieve
• Implementation of sustained research-based professional development for faculty and staff development
• Established partnerships with parents, families, and the community.
"I couldn't wait to share this recognition with one of our Parent Voice Committee's chairpersons, Beth Wesley" said Principal Fitzgerald. "Beth sent me an email with a large smiley face on it and wrote "Well, now the whole state of New Jersey will know what we the parents already know, that Penn Tech is a school of excellence!"
Fitzgerald said that the dedication and enthusiasm of staff and students to achieve their goals, along with family support, are keys to the school's success. Monillas attributes the student achievement to the high degree of student motivation coupled with a faculty who is constantly updating their curriculums and pedagogies.
On average, every year at least 80 percent of all Penn Tech graduates go on to college. Fitzgerald says that academic and career preparation help make this possible. In addition to the variety of excellent career training programs provided to the students, Penn Tech's rigorous academic course offerings include Advanced Placement courses in English, Calculus, Spanish, Biology, and History. The school also offers Chinese, Spanish, Music, and Art classes, along with several extracurricular sports and activities to the students. In addition, its successful 21st Century after-school program provides academic tutoring as well as an array of various programs for students to join such as Poetry, SAT Prep, Psychology (Camden County College course), Information Literacy, Yoga, Visual Arts, Photography, Pottery, and a Chess Club.
Penn Tech students who need extra academic help when preparing for the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) are scheduled for a one-period "HSPA Prep" class in English or Math during their three-period career program. The HSPA Prep class is taught by an English or Math teacher and it provides an opportunity for the students to use a computerized program called Study Island, where they can assess their skills and receive immediate feedback on their progress.
Professional development for staff members is extensive and valuable. For example, the teachers participate in "Lesson Study" throughout the school year with highly qualified professional consultants whereby they plan lessons together as a team of teachers and visit each other's classrooms when implementing the lessons. Afterward, they give each other feedback on the lessons observed. "This constant monitoring and team effort help us to achieve excellence," Dr. Monillas said.
The students wear uniforms at Penn Tech and the school has a Character Development Committee to discuss programs for students that enhance their character by helping them to behave in a positive way. This committee is run by the staff on a volunteer basis after school hours and students as well as administrators and parents, serve on the committee, Fitzgerald said. One of the school's character education incentive programs developed by students, parents, administrators and staff of Penn Tech is called the "Star Student Achiever" program where students can earn gold, silver and bronze stars each marking period for meeting criteria in academic achievement, attendance, attitude/behavior, and actively participating in an activity or athletic program or community service. Students get star pins that they wear on their lanyards. Trophies are awarded at the end of the year to students who get stars for three marking periods. "Students, parents, staff and administrators all gave input into the incentive program, which is part of our character education program," Fitzgerald said. With a healthy enrollment that averages 800 students per year, Fitzgerald added "Many parents tell me that they want their students to attend here because, in addition to providing career training, our school provides them with a safe, positive learning environment."
Penn Tech was named by US News and Report as one of New Jersey's best high schools in 2009 and 2010. The school has also received Character Education Awards for the past three years by the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Character Development and the Character Education Partnership.
"Since my coming here, I have seen the school grow from a traditional career school to a state-of-the-art facility with programs like Green Technology Certification and Performing Arts which attracts students from all areas of Camden County" said Dr. Monillas.
For September 2011 - The Early Childhood Education Center at Camden County Technical Schools (CCTS) is currently enrolling pre-school aged children for September.
Potty trained children ages 3 through age 5 are eligible for enrollment. Extended hours of care are provided daily to children enrolled in the preschool program in order to accommodate the needs of working families and students. Reasonable tuition. Space is limited so call 856-767-7000, ext. 5601 or email is at daycare@ccts.net
Camden resident and Penn Tech sophomore Angel Fernandez was instrumental in working with local officials to reopen a skate park located at Stockton’s Park in Camden City. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony led my Mayor Dana Redd, she singled out Angel Fernandez and acknowledged his role in the skate park's reopening. The idea and the design for the skate park was a suggestion sent to the mayor by Angel.
released from the Camden County Prosecutor and Pine Hill Police about cell phones.
CCTS was awarded a Four-Year Green Program of Study Pilot Program grant in the amount of $6,000.
Science and Horticultural Center
Dedication Ceremony
CCTS students, staff, and representa-tives from Camden County hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 13, 2010 at 3:30 pm at the Pennsauken Campus.
The new 47,400 square-foot, two-story building houses four state-of-the-art science labs, sixteen class-rooms, a horticulture career program, and two spacious meeting room facilities. The building is furnished and equipped with the latest technology and welcomed the first group of students a few weeks ago.
"This ribbon cutting ceremony was our way to say thank you to the many individuals who helped us get here – freeholders, board members, our business and college partners, staff, consultants, lawyers, architects, contractors, and state officials," said Dr. Albert Monillas, Superintendent.
For the second year in a row, the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group (NJSBAIG) is pleased to inform Camden County Technical Schools that your grant in the amount of $24,391.00 has been approved.
On August 25, 2010 a County Apprenticeship Program grant in the amount of $20,493.00 was approved.
Personalized Learning Plan Grant
For the second year, the New Jersey Department of Education announced "Personalized Learning Plan Program" grant has been awarded to CCTS for school year 2010-2011. Click here for more information.
On September 1, 2010 the State of New Jersey awarded CCTS the 21st Century Learning Center Community Grant for $500,000.00
from the Prosecutor's Office. Read it here.
The New Jersey Department of Education announced on June 30th that CCTS was awarded 2010 Tech-Prep Grant in the amount of $240,000.00.