About Our School
Edith M. Griebling Elementary School is an exciting place to learn and our mission is to “Make today amazing!” As one of the inaugural Future Ready Schools, Griebling Bulldogs are committed to empowering children. We maintain a keen focus on honoring the unique learning needs of our young students through developmentally appropriate learning experiences and we take great pride in promoting an inclusive environment that nurtures and celebrates an appreciation of diversity.
Griebling School’s student-centered philosophy emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning. We are committed to providing learning experiences that encourage students to think deeply, explore areas of self-interest, collaborate with peers, and cultivate a passion for learning. The teachers and support staff remain dedicated to engaging students in rigorous learning opportunities of all content areas guided by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) with Social and Emotional Learning Competencies embedded within the curriculum.
NJSLS are used to direct instruction at all levels and across all subject disciplines. Professional learning in-service activities are focused on meeting these standards, as well as finding new, exciting, and creative teaching strategies to make learning both enjoyable and meaningful. The results of student assessment data are routinely reviewed, examined, and analyzed which provides a stimulus for curriculum changes, modifications, and enhancements. Many special academic offerings continue to be available to students in need of extra help. Response to Intervention is implemented as our staff strives to create a strong educational foundation, with effective strategies for our students. It is our hope to ensure the sustainability of current levels of attainment, growth, and progress to higher degrees of success.
Our staff of educators is committed to providing a learning environment that promotes high achievement and a positive self-image. With Griebling’s technology infrastructure and support, we are sufficient to enable educators to effectively prepare Future Ready students. Through technology, personalized learning, and creative scheduling, individual needs are met for each and every student to create an outstanding educational experience.
Griebling School has met the rigorous requirements to achieve silver-level certification and a Digital Schools Star recognition from Sustainable Jersey for Schools. Reflective of a 21st century learning environment, our school continues to engage students in opportunities that immerse them in developmentally appropriate skills to prepare for the future. The Sustainable Schools for NJ certification program recognizes New Jersey’s schools that demonstrate their leadership and commitment to sustainability.
A Digital Schools Star embraces the mindful implementation of effective digital learning and communication tools, resources, and practices – a commitment that is evident in its mission, culture, classrooms and interactions with its stakeholders. Star schools document their successful digital learning strategies in the action areas of leadership, learning practices, technology access, school culture and climate, and student learning in order to qualify for Star recognition.
Every student is provided with an iPad to elevate their learning experiences across all content areas through such resources and applications as Scholastic Literacy Pro, Savvas Realize Math digital tools and the Mystery Science web-based program. We benchmark student reading levels via Fountas and Pinnell assessments and encourage students to learn and challenge themselves at their own pace.
Griebling School is proud of its student achievement levels as reflected in school-wide Renaissance STAR Assessment Test results. The STAR computer-based test is administered three times a year and measures individual academic growth in Early Literacy, Reading and Math. We rely on our School Improvement Panel, Data Teams and Professional Learning Networks to formatively assess student and teacher needs. It is through these teams that we analyze student performance data, and determine our plan for professional learning in a “for us, by us” mentality.
Our students are supported to actively engage in their learning journey by partnering with teachers to design their personalized academic and social-emotional goals. The structures of the classrooms enable our students to engage in whole class lessons, receive individualized instruction through small groups and also work independently while monitoring progress towards their goals, as our instructional staff measures growth through use of formative assessment with various formal and informal benchmark assessments.
Our Gifted & Academically Talented Programs begin in third grade, when we offer Project ECG (Enrichment Cluster Groups) to help qualifying students reach their fullest potential. Each group consists of identified ECG students placed together in a general education classroom to maximize exposure to peers with similar strengths. To truly channel personalized learning Griebling hosts Project GOAL (Great Opportunities for Advanced Learning) to service the top 2-3% of the fourth and fifth grade population district-wide. This program provides a self-contained model of program delivery designed for high ability students.
Our leadership is collaborative and inclusive of all educational stakeholders. Our classrooms are outfitted with projectors, document cameras, and screens and each teacher has a macbook. Our learning management systems, Schoology and Google Drive implement teacher resources to allow shared spaces and various ways to communicate among the staff. Staff is encouraged to visit one another’s classrooms as we host self-scheduled learning walks. Programs such as Remind, Seesaw and Dojo allow parents to see what is happening in their child’s classroom throughout the day and provide a clean, private way to connect. Our school is one that reflects innovation, collaboration and empowerment. Education and classroom practice provides authentic learning and digital assessment.
Through our Positive Actions Will Shine (PAWS) school-wide program, it is our goal to provide our learners a framework to reinforce positive behaviors and academic growth embedded in our students’ daily routines and interactions with peers and staff. Through modeling behavioral expectations and strategies, our PAWS program encourages our students to continuously make positive choices while caring about and respecting themselves and others. The incorporation of our school mantra, “Be the 3”, our students are provided with a common goal and clear expectations. The language of Be the 3: Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Paw-some, is utilized throughout our building in all learning environments. Additionally, students are assigned to one of three house colors; red, white or blue as an added opportunity to build upon our school-wide Bulldog spirit. Each house works as a team to collect points for their respective house team during various events throughout the year. The winning houses are celebrated and recognized during our trimester “pup”-rallies across the school year.
The Griebling Parent Teacher Association (PTA) provides our students and families experiences both inside and outside of our schools to create exciting and memorable experiences, such as Fall BINGO Night, Kindergarten Social, Book Fairs, Holiday Bazaar, and so much more. We work together to educate our community for our children’s highest success. The Griebling PTA continues to be an integral part of our school as parent volunteers are always welcome in a wide variety of ways to enhance and reinforce the extended family atmosphere because we know that parents play a critical role in their child’s learning experiences. Thus, we continue to keep the lines of communication with our stakeholders open, honest and approachable.
Our “Bulldog Broadcast” is emailed to our families weekly. These newsletters provide reminders and details regarding upcoming school and community events and activities. Additionally, activities and events are highlighted over the course of the school year via our Instagram account. Our team of educators is committed to partnering with our families to provide a positive, supportive learning journey for our students. We welcome our Bulldogs each day with a personal greeting that leads to our daily morning meeting, the core to building a classroom community. Griebling School offers a stimulating, enriching, and empowering learning environment that encourages our students to “Make Today Amazing”!