Pascack Valley Community Life from Westwood, New Jersey • A50

Parents and teachers unify town and school FIAs honored doesn't have to say it. The people of River Vale can take pride in knowing that the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) at all three schools in the K-8 district were recently awarded with Certifications of Excellence from the National PTA. the better the community is and the more that parents are involved the better the schools are. Although individual communities already believe in what they are doing and the efforts they have made, it is always nice to hear a "job well done" from someone that BY STEVEN GONZALEZ Of Community Life It is often said that the more that residents are involved in a town Visit us at our web site; www.cleqreyesrx.com Clear Eyes RX Committed to quality, service value! to achieve excellence and be recognized for their dedication to parent involvement." All schools in the nation are encouraged to submit an application to National PTA, yet, to date, only 533 schools in the entire country have achieved this designation. Verducci said that eight states pulled in half of the awards, California winning 33 awards.

New Jersey took six, three of which are in River Vale Woodside, Roberge and Holdrum schools. "We were the only school district that we could find that won at each and every single school in its district," said Verducci. "Sometimes you really get lucky. It really covers a lot of areas and we did pretty well. "It was a great way to say thank you to the PTA," he said.

"They do a lot of great things in this town and they don't always get the recognition. This is just fantastic that they were honored." As part of the certification process, the schools formed a team consisting of teachers, parents, students, the principal and representatives from the community. They completed a self-assessment survey of parental involvement at each school. Each survey served as an application for one of two distinctions, said Verducci. According to team members, the certification is a symbol of parents, staff and com- SEE PTA, PAGE 70 "What's the term, Trifecta?" said Superintendent of Schools, David Verducci, Ph.D.

"It was almost like hoping against hope to get three out of three. It's like that feeling you get when you work really hard to achieve something and you know you do well. It is one of those things, that is a great feeling unto its own, but when somebody out there that doesn't have to say it does, its just that much better. "What it's really about for us is the reach," he said. "Sometimes it's not just the win, but the reach that makes it all the better.

We are always looking to make things better." National Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence certification recognizes schools that uphold the highest standards in parent involvement. This certification is designed to help schools in the nation assess their parent involvement practices, make improvements where needed and earn one of two distinctions Certification of Excellence, for schools that have outstanding parent involvement practices in place, and Recognition of Commitment, for schools that are committed to pursuing excellence in parent involvement. "Every child deserves to attend a school of excellence," National PTA President Linda Hodge said in a prepared statement. "The certification program is an unprecedented opportunity for all schools 494 Rl. 17 Norm 1 14 mile north o( Midland Ave.

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Expires 53105 PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RIVER VALE BOARD OF EDUCATION The Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) at all three River Vale schools were recently awarded with Certifications of Excellence from the National PTA. From left, PTA Co-Presidents Kathy Blazina, Kerry Miller, and Ellen Panno hold the banner award, which will be flown under each American Flag at each school, is good for three years 2005 to 2008. We specialize in CHILDREN? EYEWEAR SPORTS GLASSES ULTRATHIN LENSES PROGRESSIVE MULTIFOCALS EYEWEAR'S HOTTESTTREND RIMLESS! r----------i ULTRATHIN LENSES FRAME LENSES COMPLETE 99 I Tri-County I Includes ploycarbonate lenses 2.00 to -600 sph, 2 cyl. and frame from the Infinity Collection. 'With coupon only.

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