Truman School's theme is teamwork for 2007-08
School focuses on motivational theme to accomplish goals
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Harry S. Truman Elementary School Principal Linda Coffey celebrates the school theme with help from some pom poms during the Sept. 30 pep rally.

SAYREVILLE - Students and staff at the Harry S. Truman School are showing that, together, they can do great things.

That is the school theme this year, and was the message of a recent pep rally that included performances by the Sayreville War Memorial High School cheerleaders and Sayreville Middle School step squad. The cheers they yelled along with Truman School cheerleaders promoted school spirit and the school's theme of cooperation and teamwork.

"Throughout the year, we will be concentrating on different ways we can work together as a team in the classroom, school and community to make great things happen," school Principal Linda Coffey wrote in a press release. The students will set goals as part of the program to make better choices in regard to health and physical fitness, as well as expressing themselves creatively.

The school's curriculum has a threefold focus each month, concentrating on the theme in specific content areas, character education traits and community service projects when possible.

"During the month of September, we concentrated on the content area of art," Coffey said. "This was integrated into a variety of 'getting acquainted' activities in the classroom, illustrations for class books, murals, bulletin board and hall displays."

Art teacher Marianne Cobell created a theme-related display case that highlights the school's focus on the content area of art with Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting, Coffey said. The school also promoted participation in the Artsonia Web site program, which promotes family and community involvement in art education. Truman School's online art gallery ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 14 in the nation thanks to Cobell's hard work, Coffey added.

The character trait for September was cooperation, and the community service project for the month was an ongoing focus on recycling.

"It was important that we actively involve the children in our recycling efforts from day one," Coffey said. " We are requesting the support of the parents with this project by recycling in their home to reinforce the importance of everyone pitching in to do their share to show we care about the world around us."

The school launched a motivational project where students strive to achieve goals related to academics, character traits and attendance throughout the year, Coffey said. All students received a chain necklace and a tag that says "Dolphin Pride" to represent the school's logo, but students can earn additional tags their cooperativeness or for having perfect attendance each marking period.

"This project also promotes responsibility because each child is accountable for his or her necklace," Coffey said. "Students may wear their necklace at their discretion. It is a reward for their teamwork, cooperation and effort."

Other events that children will have the opportunity to attend include a monthly luncheon called the "Cooperation Café," which is funded by the PTO.

"I look forward to these luncheons because they enable me to interact with the youngsters in an informal setting and spend some quality time with them," Coffey said.