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MARS is designed to meet the needs of students who excel in math, reading, or language arts through the use of higher order thinking skills. The program addresses the NJ Core curriculum Content standards and focuses on creative problem solving and communication skills in a highly engaging format. The participants are 4th and 5th graders who have demonstrated high achievement and task commitment in the subject areas. Criteria for selection are teacher recommendation, year-end mathematics test results, Iowa/STAR test results, and report card grades.
All first and second grade students participate in a program called PEP (Primary Enrichment Program). This is not a program for a select few like the gifted and talented programs; all children have a chance to participate in challenging activities at their own levels of performance and interest. The PEP Program at Birches School is taught in thematic units. This year the students have just completed a unit on Trees and Seasons and are now going to be learning about the Tropical Rain Forest.
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Birches TAG, PEP, MARS Teacher, Mrs. McGinty