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https://flipgrid.com/321d4758

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How could the effects of flooding in areas of our town be a springboard for science and civics lessons whereby students become active members of our community?

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     Areas of interest that emerged from the study of my community are the changing demographics in our town and the positive and negative and consequences of living by the Delaware River.  These concepts both surprised and concerned me especially in relation to the lack of infusion into our curricula.  

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     Areas of interest that emerged from the study of my community are the changing demographics in our town and the positive and negative and consequences of living by the Delaware River.  These concepts both surprised and concerned me especially in relation to the lack of infusion into our curricula.  

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According to the 2010 Census and the last three years of the NJ School Report, Delran's Turkish and Brazilian population has grown rapidly.  The has been an increase of English Language Learners at all levels in all schools. Yet, despite this growing number, the community still maintains its "white collar" reputation.  Aside from a few speciality markets in town, there is no attempt to help these cultures assimilate into our town.
With regard to content curriculum for seventh grade, there is not much diversity offered in any course. While themes of tolerance and acceptance are fostered by reading selections, these are not ethnic specific but rather revolve around bullying.  Clearly much more can be done to include diversity into our curriculum providing insight into beliefs, customs, and ideology of different ethnicities.
The other area that kept emerging through interviews and Council meetings was the repercussions of being a river town. I had no idea that parts of our town near the Delaware River experienced terrible flooding on many occasions to the point that home owners were asking for government assistance through FEMA. This flooding also posed concerns with regards to an environmental hazard site that was once an alloy manufacturer.  The flooding is feared to have cause toxins from this site to seep into groundwater in other areas of the town, requiring the possibility of the Environmental Protection Agency doing a clean up.
As I examined the curriculum with this concern in mind, I noticed that our science classes in seventh grade do complete a unit on ecosystems and food chains.  Our Social Studies classes primarily focus on all aspects of civics including the roles of the government and taxation.  These are two content specific areas that could take a more active role in making lessons applicable to our students lives in Delran.  I envision science experiments that demonstrate how flooding occurs along the riverbanks and how this flooding could cause erosion on the hazardous alloy site.  I can imagine students writing letters to representatives about the need to clean up this site and the need to prevent future waste hazard sites.  Testing water samples, examining allocating funds from FEMA are just some of the lessons that could bring community needs into the classroom.

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* Pride in  small town community
*Diversity of culture with
growing Brazilian and Turkish
communities
* Consequences of being a "River
Town"

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Notes from Delran Township Council Meeting

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Notes from Delran Township Council Meeting

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April 2, 2019

I am embarrassed to say that this was my first council meeting, and it was very informational.  It began with the flag salute and approval of the minutes from minutes of the past two months.  Following that, ordinances and resolutions were read and approved for items such as salaries, budgets, tax refunds, and safe driving initiatives (Click it or Tick It, Distracted Driving Detail).
I was shocked at how few people were in attendance; including myself, there were five.  All council members were present including the Township Administrator and Township Lawyer.  I had envisioned it being attended by many more people. I was also surprised that the Fire Commissioner gave a report about activity and a representative from the emergency squad was in attendance as well.
Before the session was open to public comment, Mayor Paris spoke about a new coalition that is forming with surrounding river towns to address the flooding problems caused by the Rancocas Creek and the Delaware River.  By joining together, the towns hope to convince FEMA to provide towns with funding to be used in flood zones.  I found this interesting as this was a concern that was brought up when I interviewed a member of our town. I did not realize that flooding was such an issue, probably because I live in a part of town that does not face this danger. I was reminded that I was an outsider even living in my own town.
When the session was open to the public, a man spoke questioning the Council on a contaminated area that may be developed for low income housing dependent upon the EPA's assessment of the degree of contamination.  The man wanted to know who would be paying for the cleanup of the area once testing was completed. The town is receiving grant money for testing of this area to see if clean up is feasible and eventual construction of 60 homes. The Council seemed to not want to address this issue as it "hasn't even been declared safe for construction".  This concern resonated with me as well because I read an article about this controversial issue in the newspaper. This may be an area I want to examine more closely, like the flooding concerns in my project based learning plan.
Following this gentleman's questions, of which the Council did not have an answer, the Council went into an emergency work session. After a 30 minute delay, the Council resumed and closed the session meeting. The next meeting will be held on May 7, 2019. Below are my notes from the meeting.

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I interviewed three members of our community: a Council member, Mrs. Parejo, a resident and teacher, Mr. Mars, and a high school student, Ms. Van Ettin.  I was intrigued and somewhat surprised by some of the responses these community members gave.

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I interviewed three members of our community: a Council member, Mrs. Parejo, a resident and teacher, Mr. Mars, and a high school student, Ms. Van Ettin.  I was intrigued and somewhat surprised by some of the responses these community members gave.

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All three members were in strong agreement that Delran is a town that takes pride in its small town values and sense of community.  Sports are very important as is community traditions such as Spirit Week.  During Spirit Week  high school classes bring the community together as parents and students join together to build floats, choreograph musical skits, and host a parade through town. This time honored tradition has been around for 40 years and brings generations together every Fall. When it came to challenges the town is facing, answers were much more diverse.  Mrs. Parejo, a Council member who canvassed the neighborhood interviewing residents this summer, explained taxes were of great concern, especially with older residents of town. Community members see a steady increase in taxes and worry that there is no end in sight notably for our senior citizens who are on a fixed budget.  Mrs. Parejo also commented that there were concerns that were just unique to specific areas of our town.  For example, members who lived along the Delaware River were highly concerned about flooding and lack of protection for their homes.  Mr. Mars felt that social media was having an adverse affect on town relationships.  He felt that "Residents' Pages" on social media sights like "Facebook" were sources of frustration and miscommunication.  He felt these websites were "weakening the bonds of friendship that once made our town such a tight knit community."  Mr. Mars continued to explain that politics has divided our community due to  false information presented in social media.  Ms. Van Ettin said she felt crime was a challenge in Delran.  I asked her why she believed crime; interestingly enough, Ms. Van Ettin said that she had seen posts of car thefts/break ins on the "Resident's Page".  I found it ironic that one resident blamed social media while another resident used social media as a news source.
With regard to needs of the community, Mr. Mars said the community needs to be cognizant of the needs of its town members.  "Although Delran appears to be a white collar, middle class community, it is a changing town with growing needs for its diverse populations".  He explained that there has been a steady increase of Turkish and Brazilian community members.  "So much so that 25% of the students in our middle school speak a different language at home." according to Mr. Mars who is the technology expert in the middle school.  Ms. Van Ettin didn't feel that our town had challenges, but did share that she felt students could become more involved in community service.
All three members who were interviewed believed that community members could reach out and be inclusive and more mindful of all its residents.  Other than speciality shops and perhaps a few shelves at the local Shoprite, there is not a lot of cultural diversification considering the growing number of immigrants.  Also, although there is an increase in the number of English Language Learners in all the schools, there does not seem to be any additional resources. Mr. Mars added that if the state would provide the funding promised, more resources could be made available to all students, including the increasing number of English Language Learners.
Mrs. Parejo added if community members could see how their tax dollars were being put to good use in the school system, they might understand where their tax money is going.  Too often, residents do not see all the benefits students are receiving from the money generated by taxes.  Inviting community members into schools and publicizing school achievements and accomplishments may help curtail resentment of tax payers.

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 I decided to spend about an hour at the largest park in our community, Conrow Park on Sunday, March 17, 2019.  Conrow Park, although not very expansive, is located near the town landmark, our water tower, and is a popular place for families when the weather is pleasant.  Moreover, the playground area was just refurbished and reopened two weeks ago.  I felt confident that I would be able to observe interactions among and between community members.

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 I decided to spend about an hour at the largest park in our community, Conrow Park on Sunday, March 17, 2019.  Conrow Park, although not very expansive, is located near the town landmark, our water tower, and is a popular place for families when the weather is pleasant.  Moreover, the playground area was just refurbished and reopened two weeks ago.  I felt confident that I would be able to observe interactions among and between community members.

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When I first arrived at 2:45, the playground was very crowded. I counted approximately eight families and a group of middle school aged children playing at the park. There were children of various ages including babies in strollers, toddlers, elementary aged children, and preteens. Families were also diversified; there were "traditional" families represented with both mother and father figures interacting with their children as well as single parents. I was surprised by how many fathers seem to be there by themselves with their children. I also noticed a few grandparents who brought their grandchildren to the park. I did not anticipate this and was intrigued by how actively involved these elderly members were while playing with their grandchildren.
During my time there, four more families arrived: two of whom appeared Hispanic/Latino, one Asian speaking family and one Turkish speaking family. Of all the families represented during my hour of observation, I made note that three of the families were of Hispanic/Latino descent, equaling approximately 1/4 of the families at the park and five of the twelve total families were diverse in nature. This is by no means a scientific data driven study, but it is worthy to note.
As I watched the interaction among children and parents, I noticed that children were more receptive to reaching out to diverse families.  In some cases, there was language barrier which explained the lack of communication. In one particular case, a little girl about five years old said hello to a Hispanic little girl of about the same age.  However, neither the Hispanic little girl nor her parents responded. I found this to be disheartening thinking of missed opportunities for both little girls.  On the other hand,  I also observed a bilingual Turkish boy who was very quick to introduce himself to other children. He seemed to assimilate to the play of fellow children seamlessly.
As I observed the interaction or lack of interaction, I tried to put my self in the shoes of an "outsider" in my community.  I noticed that even though there was a diverse population at this public park, it was not very culturally friendly.  All the signs around the park such as a welcome sign, park rules and hours,   and signs on the play equipment (Adventure Island/Climbing Castle) were all in only English. In addition, in the book swap bin, none of the sixteen selections offered were culturally diverse. Upon reflection, I realized that although my community is becoming much more diverse, my town has not adapted to this diversification.  As I consider other community attractions and events, I believe  our town needs to examine how culturally friendly it is .  As a teacher in my district, I have seen the increase of ELLs in my school, yet have not seen any attempts by my town to make these newcomers feel like "insiders".  Although we strive to teach tolerance and acceptance to our students, these beliefs must carry over to all aspects of our community if we are to achieve true culturally diversity.

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Delran is a small town that takes pride in its service to its community members.  Upon examining the township website, it is apparent that the town values its members' needs and concerns, especially when it comes to the youth of the town.  For example, events such as an Easter Hunt, a two week Summer Camp, the National Night Out and a Winter Festival are scheduled and posted under "Save the Dates". This is in addition to the many events hosted by each of the four schools in town. In addition, the town's athletic association has a link that is comprehensive. It offers a wide range of sports, 10 total, at all ages levels ranging from 4 to 16 years.  Its Park and Recreation Committee boasts 9 parks/ playgrounds and the township is proud to have helped raised funds to build an all inclusive playground  for children of all needs.  According to the Mayor's Desk Letter Spring 2019, building for this playground will break ground sometime in the Spring after four years of planning and fundraising.  You can tell the community is proud of its efforts to make this special playground a reality.
Delran also promotes community involvement offering committees such as a Green Team, Historical Society, and Chicken Advisory Board.  Members are welcome to participate in these organizations that serve to protect the  environment, support the use of natural resources, and preserve Delran's history. The calendar is updated with meeting dates for each committee as well as special events such as an Arbor Day Celebration and a seeding give away.
According to the town's minutes from monthly meetings, Delran's mayor and Town Council seem to focus on the needs of the town such as road repairs, waste management improvements, and welcoming new businesses to the community.  For example in the span of a year, four new major businesses have or will be opening in the township: Launch Trampoline Park, Ashley Furniture, Lightbridge Academy and Stumpy's Hatchet Throwing.  This is in addition to three major fitness centers that opened last year in Delran.  Delran seems to be a town that welcomes development yet still strives to maintain a small town feel, balancing community needs while seeking economic growth.
Although Delran has much to offer its residents and is a close knit community, it has not been free of controversy.  According to the Burlington County Times reporter Lisa Broadt, Delran was sued two years ago by Fair Share Housing Center, an advocacy group who alleged Delran was not building its required number of mandatory affordable housing (Broadt).  Delran settled the case, agreeing to build 200 new affordable housing units (Broadt). Delran has maintained that land for such housing is a difficult to allocate (Broadt). However, Delran may have found a possible solution. According to Town Council minutes, Delran is applying for a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection Agency to complete an environmental study on an area in town that has been listed as a "contaminated area of concern".  Should the grant be awarded and the site be "considered suitable for clean up and redevelopment", 200 new housing units will begin construction in the future (Broadt). This could be of significant concern for the town whose school population has been steadily increasing.  Considering there is only one school per education level, lack of space and an increase in class size may become problematic in the next few years.  This may prove to be a cultural moment in the future.

Broadt, Lisa. (2019, March 5)."Delran working to turn contaminated property into affordable housing." Burlington County Times, p.A3.

Delran Township:  https://www.delrantownship.org/

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      My school community, Delran Middle School,  is located in Delran, NJ, a small community 7.2 miles in size.   According to the 2010 Census, there are approximately 16, 896 people living in Delran with a median family income approximately $90,000 (www.state.nj.us).   Delran has always been known for being a small family town that values its education system. Parental involvement and support is apparent both in schools and at athletic events.  The community is also very proud of its reputation for its support of its many youth athletic programs.  Due to its relatively small size, Delran's school system of approximately 3000 students makes it a very close knit community, with only one school per education level. Although each school has its own climate, the culture of each is very similar and students grow up with a "family' oriented mindset starting kindergarten together and graduating high school with the same group of students.     I, myself, am an insider as I have been living in Delran for the last 13 years. My children have been raised in Delran, educated in Delran, and participated in our athletic association. I have had the unique opportunity of experiencing life in Delran as a resident, parent and educator.    I have friends who have also been the parents of my students; I have had students who have also been friends of my children. I have been a fan my own children as well as my students at sporting events and have met parents of my students at the local grocery store. Living in the town where I work has given me such insight into the lives of my students, and I relish this role as insider.     However, I was not always an insider; when I first began teaching in Delran I had never been in the public school system.  I had gone to Catholic school my whole life, taught for three years in a private school and came to Delran with a preconceived notion that public schools were filled with students who didn't care and parents who didn't care either. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I was very sheltered growing up in the culture of private schools.       The first few months at Delran Middle School were very difficult for me as I found it hard to assimilate into the public school culture due to my own insecurities.  The students were strong minded, independent and curious; they questioned, suggested and sometimes critiqued my instruction.  My first year students made me reflect on my beliefs and my teaching style and as a result made me a much better teacher.  While being an outsider can be uncomfortable, it can teach us much about ourselves and help us come to appreciate differences as I learned that first year.     As I reflect on this ethnographic study, I hope to learn more about the changing cultures in our community.Although the Delran  community is predominately white (73%), there is a growing Hispanic/ Latino population (12%) according to the  NJ School Performance Report of 2016-2017 (rc.doe.state.nj.us)This percentage has increased 7% since the 2010 Census.  From a teacher's point of view, this rising number of Hispanic and Latino members of our community is important as  I see an increase in the number of ELs in our schools with each passing year.  From a community member's point of view, our Hispanic and Latino members bring a new set of cultures to the cultures that have existed in Delran for many years. We need to embrace this new culture and help our Hispanic/Latino population assimilate into our community becoming "insiders" while retaining their ethnic diversity.  

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      My school community, Delran Middle School,  is located in Delran, NJ, a small community 7.2 miles in size.   According to the 2010 Census, there are approximately 16, 896 people living in Delran with a median family income approximately $90,000 (www.state.nj.us).   Delran has always been known for being a small family town that values its education system. Parental involvement and support is apparent both in schools and at athletic events.  The community is also very proud of its reputation for its support of its many youth athletic programs.  Due to its relatively small size, Delran's school system of approximately 3000 students makes it a very close knit community, with only one school per education level. Although each school has its own climate, the culture of each is very similar and students grow up with a "family' oriented mindset starting kindergarten together and graduating high school with the same group of students.     I, myself, am an insider as I have been living in Delran for the last 13 years. My children have been raised in Delran, educated in Delran, and participated in our athletic association. I have had the unique opportunity of experiencing life in Delran as a resident, parent and educator.    I have friends who have also been the parents of my students; I have had students who have also been friends of my children. I have been a fan my own children as well as my students at sporting events and have met parents of my students at the local grocery store. Living in the town where I work has given me such insight into the lives of my students, and I relish this role as insider.     However, I was not always an insider; when I first began teaching in Delran I had never been in the public school system.  I had gone to Catholic school my whole life, taught for three years in a private school and came to Delran with a preconceived notion that public schools were filled with students who didn't care and parents who didn't care either. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I was very sheltered growing up in the culture of private schools.       The first few months at Delran Middle School were very difficult for me as I found it hard to assimilate into the public school culture due to my own insecurities.  The students were strong minded, independent and curious; they questioned, suggested and sometimes critiqued my instruction.  My first year students made me reflect on my beliefs and my teaching style and as a result made me a much better teacher.  While being an outsider can be uncomfortable, it can teach us much about ourselves and help us come to appreciate differences as I learned that first year.     As I reflect on this ethnographic study, I hope to learn more about the changing cultures in our community.Although the Delran  community is predominately white (73%), there is a growing Hispanic/ Latino population (12%) according to the  NJ School Performance Report of 2016-2017 (rc.doe.state.nj.us)This percentage has increased 7% since the 2010 Census.  From a teacher's point of view, this rising number of Hispanic and Latino members of our community is important as  I see an increase in the number of ELs in our schools with each passing year.  From a community member's point of view, our Hispanic and Latino members bring a new set of cultures to the cultures that have existed in Delran for many years. We need to embrace this new culture and help our Hispanic/Latino population assimilate into our community becoming "insiders" while retaining their ethnic diversity.  