History of Central School
In 1899, the borough spent $600 on a lot on Maple Avenue chosen because it was “centrally” located. A four-room school, known as School #1, was constructed for $3,400. Dedicated in 1900, the school started with 75 students and one teacher, and with Charles Carter as principal.
By 1903, two more classrooms had been added to accommodate 110 students and three teachers. Grades were divided in two: grades one through three, and four through eight. Early school commencement exercises were held in the Smith-Singer Building, and two portable classes were set up in 1923. With the number of children continuing to grow, a new school was proposed for the property south of School #1. During the 1925-26 school year, construction of the new “Central School” began and in 1929 this new structure became the first borough junior high school, with Margaret Burke as principal.
From the initial two-story brick and cinderblock structure, the school was expanded in 1939, 1958, and 1961. The basement of the original building contained the gymnasium as well as the science and workshop rooms and the auditorium. At one time, the offices of the Superintendent of Schools and the school district’s Business offices were located there.
The first addition, in 1939, was followed by another wing on the north side of the building and, most recently, a new gymnasium. Central School served as the junior high school until 1939, when the present Junior High School (now part of the High School) was built as a federal Works Progress Administration project, following four bond issue defeats. Central School then became a grammar school for kindergarten through eighth grade.
The current parking lot was at one time a grove of oak trees, where no grass would ever grow. Teachers referred to this play area as the “dust bowl” because clouds of dust rose in the air as the children played and then persisted long after they were gone. The playground contained swings and a seesaw and was the site of many Maypole dances.
In 1939, School #1 was demolished. The original school bell was purchased by collectors Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Ackerman. When the Ackermans moved in 1962, the bell was donated to Central School. Paul Ritz, who was the principal at the time (and served from 1951-1975), had the bell mounted, a plaque made, and displayed in the Central School lobby, where it still stands today.
The third principal was Mae Hansen, who served from 1975 to 1978, followed by David Skinner, who retired in 1993; Ashley Silverman who retired in 2002; Scott Blake 2002-2006; Jacqueline Frangis, Vito D’Alconzo (Interim Principal), Andrew Matteo, and the 10th and current principal, Krista La Croix. Today Central School consists of 18 classrooms as well as a gymnasium, auditorium, principal’s and nurse’s offices, faculty, art and resource rooms, a library, and three acres of property. Current enrollment is approximately 340 students.
Central School
Central's K-5 school is a vibrant learning community that offers an instructional program that strikes the balance between the very best traditional practices and cutting-edge instruction. In a partnership which benefits our students, Central’s faculty, parents, and the extended community strive together to foster a safe, nurturing learning environment where children always come first. Each day Central School strives towards its mission “to develop students into leaders who have a love of learning, strive for excellence in the classroom, are guided by strong values and ethics, and seek to improve the condition of the world.”
Central School’s academic performance is very high when compared to schools across the state, outperforming 97% of schools statewide and meeting 100% of our performance targets. Central School has the honor of being recognized as a Rewards School in the State of New Jersey.
At Central, we involve children in Glen Rock’s rigorous, relevant, and developmental approach to learning in order to best meet the challenges of the future. Children are taught language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science on a continuum from kindergarten through Grade 5. Central School values the education of the whole child, and students are involved in art, music, library, and physical education on a regular basis. We provide support, as necessary, through the Gifted & Talented program, speech, basic skills instruction, a special needs program, and ESL. A wide variety of extra-curricular activities enrich student life at Central School including Student Council, Math Club, Environmental Club, Character Education Club, and Safety Patrol.
Our faculty distinguishes themselves by their unsurpassed professionalism and a commitment to excellent practice. In staff development, special emphasis has been placed on the areas of language arts, mathematics, character education, and technology which relate directly to school and district initiatives. At the classroom level, teachers work diligently to plan hands-on, challenging, and age-appropriate learning activities, which actively engage students. All classes in grades one through five have ceiling-mounted LCD projectors, Interwrite Boards, and ELMOs and utilize this technology on a daily basis, most recently with the implementation of Rosetta Stone.
One of Central’s greatest assets is the tremendous level of support provided for our students by the HSA (Home and School Association) and the extended community. The HSA generously seeks to enrich the lives of students both in and out of the classroom. The Science Fair, the Book Fair, Bingo Night, a Fun Fair and much more are all made possible by our parents. The HSA fundraising also benefits the students through donations such as upgrading the sound and visual system in out auditorium, new risers for our choral and music concerts, laptops and whiteboards. Another important role of the HSA is organizing enriching assemblies for the whole school.
Central Elementary School is a dynamic learning community. Moving forward, we will continue to build on the tradition of excellence which has been fostered at Central School for the last century.