Show Receives Six Nominations

Classroom Close-up NJ received six Emmy nominations from the Mid Atlantic Chapter of NATAS.  This is a record even for the 15-time Emmy winning show to receive six nominations.  The nominated shows represent typical shows that feature the dedicated professionals who work in the New Jersey public schools.

Many of these stories go beyond what is expected from our schools, to creative, thought provoking and life-changing projects.  From the STEM Stations in Howell where regular and special education students delve into STEM, to students in Highstown, Plumstead and Vineland making a difference in this world with their social justice class projects.

And the nominations are:

Education/Schools – Program Special

STEM Stations – Memorial School in Howell runs STEM Innovation Stations for children with multiple disabilities, autism, and cognitive impairments.

See STEM Stations Video

Teen Drivers – Bordentown Regional High School students’ safe driving campaign includes “Don’t Text and Drive”. The New Jersey Manufactures Insurance provides interactive presentations where the students are quizzed on their driver safety knowledge.

See Teen Drivers video

Reach Before You Teach – Barnegat High School teacher Elizabeth Elko employs classroom strategies she learned during her graduate studies at The College of New Jersey that help her connect with her students. Her mentor Alan Amtzis joins the class.

See Reach Before You Teach video

Big History Project –Mullica Township Middle School is participating in The Big History Project, a world-class, ready-for-the-classroom resource available to everyone, everywhere—for free.

See Big History Project video

Education/Schools – News Single Story or Series

Battle of the Books – Fourth through sixth graders from Thomas E. Bowe School in Glassboro read books and compete in teams to show off their comprehension skills.

See Battle of the Books video

Education/Schools Program Feature or Segment

Historical Crime Scene Investigation – Demarest Middle School teacher Andrew Lefer engages his seventh-grade students in a historical crime scene investigation involving John Andrea from the American Revolution.

See Historical CSI video

Public/Current/Community Affairs Feature/Segment

Naturalization Ceremony- Marlton Elementary School fourth-graders witness a naturalization ceremony as part of a social studies lesson on immigration.

See Naturalization Ceremony video

Human Interest Program Feature/Segment

Play Unified – Alan B. Shepard Elementary School students in Old Bridge play unified, which connects student volunteers with special-needs students, to make them feel truly integrated in the school.

See Play Unified video

Public/Current/Community Affairs Program/Special

Civil Rights Cold Case – Hightstown High School students are learning first-hand how laws are made through a memorable civil rights lesson.  The AP Government and Politics class is in its third year lobbying for a federal law called the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act.

See Civil Rights Cold Case video

What’s in Your Suitcase? – Ocean County art teacher Rita Williams believes people of all ages need to be aware of the Holocaust, and the lessons should not be limited to history.  Williams teaches her second graders at Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School in Plumsted Township about the Holocaust through art.

See What’s in Your Suitcase? video

Search for Conscience – Vineland High School educator Terry Kuhnreich teaches social consciences focusing on tolerance and acceptance. In a powerful exchange via skype, her students interview Benjamin Ferencz , an investigator for the Nuremberg trials.

See Search for Conscience video

It Takes a Village RBB – Educators from Red Bank Primary School team up with the community to turn a once failing school into a successful thriving learning environment.  They rely on community partners to meet the needs of the students, including  Count Basie Theater provides teaching artists, YMCA swimming lessons, seniors reading to the students, and free dental and optical care.

See It Takes a Village video