# data[].attributes.body
Health: What kind of PSA could a seventh-grade health class create to educate young people about vaping and other juvenile substance abuse?
Social Studies: How can a seventh-grade social studies or global scholars class investigate the geography and economic inequality impact their community?

# data[].attributes.headline
Part 4: Community and Curriculum Connections

# data[].attributes.subject
Part 4: Community and Curriculum Connections

# data[].attributes.body
Students might be able to investigate the community issues through the Health and Social Studies curriculum. Community literacy could be integrated into these classes in many different ways. Right now, there is a bit of a disconnect between the community issues and the curriculum, but after analyzing the content standards for grade seven, I see areas where more connections could be made. The New Jersey Health Standards mention Health Literacy which includes: “Obtaining, interpreting, and understanding basic health information and services and using such information and services in ways that are health-enhancing; understanding preventive physical and mental health measures, including proper diet, nutrition, exercise, risk avoidance, and stress reduction; using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions; establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals; understanding national and international public health and safety issues.”  One connection I can make to this was my school’s Health and Wellness fair that promoted meditation, yoga, healthy nutrition, and mental health. It brought the school community together and put an emphasis on these specific standards. This is important since it reflects the needs of the community as a whole.

Additionally, the NJ Health Standards require that “Instructional programs on the nature of alcohol, anabolic steroids, tobacco, and controlled dangerous substances, and their physiological, psychological, sociological, and legal effects on the individual, the family, and society shall be taught in each public school and in each grade from kindergarten through 12 in a manner adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils.” From my field notes, some of the themes I noticed involved adult and juvenile substance abuse, and at the middle school, vaping in bathrooms is becoming more prevalent. My school has displayed anti-vaping posters, but more could be done in the classroom to help students make better choices, which would also cut down on their use when they are older. The DARE program and existing curriculum are somewhat generic, so if the community’s issues of overdoses and incidents in the schools were explored, it might seem more relevant.

Furthermore, the grade 6-8 social studies curriculum’s stated mission is to provide the “knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to become active, informed citizens and contributing members of local, state, national, and global communities in the digital age.” This includes fostering citizenship through active participation in local and global communities, and to consider multiple perspectives, value diversity, and promote cultural understanding. One connection to the existing curriculum at my school is through the Global Scholars program, which combines Social Studies and ELA skills to explore real-world problems and solutions. After doing research, students engage in local activism, leading fundraisers for the environment, animal rights, homelessness, etc. If the core mandatory Social Studies classes emphasized local issues like this more explicitly, it would help students grow up to be more community literate. The specific seventh-grade curriculum includes progressivism and political reform, and many of these causes regarding poverty, immigration, and women’s rights are still relevant today. To make history more meaningful, the curriculum could promote students making connections to the way these issues have evolved over time. Ultimately, the curricula could better reflect the community’s needs and find more  ways to promote content literacy.

# data[].attributes.body
Values

Positive police and community interactions

Importance of status symbols/competition

Helping others in the community

Diversity

Fundraisers

Sports

Environmental Activism

Critical Issues

Wealth and poverty co-existing in a small area

The juxtaposition of rural (parks, acres)  vs. city environments (highways, strip malls).

Lack of affordable housing; income inequality

Competition between local business vs. commercial chains

Unsafe pedestrian areas without sidewalks

No central “hub” for community events

Other Challenges

Adult and Juvenile Substance Abuse

Vaping in schools

Competing with rival districts

Gossip/rumors

Traffic

No library in town

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
MA2, Activity #3_ Community Members Interview

# data[].attributes.body
Informal Event Map

# data[].attributes.body
The following is a compilation of my field notes after sitting in an area of the community for at least 45 minutes; the map I drew is linked below.

I attended an informal community event on Friday, March 22nd called “Designer Bag Bingo.”  I found out about this event through school when flyers were sent home with students since this fundraiser was coordinated by our PTO. Green Brook is so small that the event was held at the neighboring town at the Dunellen Fire House. This is a regular event in the community that is held several times a year, but it was my first time attending. In order to observe, I had to buy tickets for $35 in advance ($40 at the door) which came with 10 games of bingo, with options to purchase more during the night. Doors opened at 6:00 and the games started at 7:00.  I arrived only a few minutes early and felt a little awkward since many of the attendees were parents of students I teach or have taught, and I didn’t really know anyone else since it is rare for teachers to attend. I wasn’t really comfortable taking notes out in the open since I had to participate to fit in, and was only able to jot a few notes on my phone during the night.

I entered the Dunellen Fire House and went up the flight of stairs to the hall they rent out. There were no reserved tables, so seating was on a first-come, first served basis. There was a built-in counter area where people checked in to get tickets.  It definitely had the feel of a “girls night out” and men were scarce. I found a seat at a table of middle-aged women, which was representative of many of the attendees; I was one of the youngest people there. I was surprised by the lack of diversity; aside from a handful of Asian and Indian women, most of the attendees were white.   The ticket price was higher than I was comfortable paying, so I wonder if the cost of attendance, along with the high-end products, had anything to do with the demographics of the event. There were pink table cloths and small centerpieces with a bingo theme; all the supplies to play were provided. The room has an actual bingo board mounted to the wall since regular games are held there. There were many tables set out, some with very appealing displays of various feminine prizes. Many of the women brought their own food and drinks to share with others. There was also a 50-50 raffle for other prizes available throughout the night. It was almost hard to hear the numbers being called with the buzz of conversation even though there were a microphone and speaker set up; in the corner, it looked like they even had access to a DJ booth for other events they host.

During the games,  I overheard some of the women talking about the rumors going on at Green Brook Middle School. Right now, our former business administrator is suing the district for a hostile work environment, and rumors of a reduction in staff due to budget cuts have circulated. Some of them asked me, as a teacher, if I had “inside info” but I had to play dumb since much of that is confidential. I was surprised how much they already knew about some of the more controversial issues plaguing the district. Otherwise, much conversation revolved around their families. I am not interested in designer brand-name items, but the women who attended this event were clearly invested in them. I was surprised that many of them already had designer bags but were otherwise dressed very casually. These Michael Kors, Gucci, and Coach bags seemed to be status symbols, the way their kids obsess over having Nikes or  AirPods.  Although I didn’t win anything, I felt better about paying since it was going toward the PTO. Every shout of “BINGO” elicited an uproar of cheers and it had a very friendly, celebratory vibe to it. Overall, by the end of my observation, I felt like I had a clearer sense of what a typical parent event in Green Brook would be like, and helped me get to know the community better.

# data[].attributes.body
Green Brook Gazette, “Community Celebrates National Night Out”

# data[].attributes.body
NJ-Patch, "Green Brook Named Among New Jersey's Best Places To Live"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
GREEN BROOK, NJ - Green Brook was named as one of the best places to live in America for 2019, according to a new set of rankings released by Niche. Green Brook was ranked as the 48th best place to live in New Jersey and the 1,814th best place to live in America.

The " Best Places to Live" rankings include cities, city neighborhoods and suburbs. Niche defines a place as a "non-rural town" with a population of 1,000 or more, including neighborhoods, suburbs and cities. Niche also separately ranked the best cities, neighborhoods and suburbs to live in.

Green Brook received an overall Niche grade of A+. Here's how Niche graded Green Brook in the following categories:

Public Schools: A
Crime & Safety: B
Housing: B
Nightlife: A-
Good for Families: A+
Diversity: A

Green Brook also ranked as the No. 5 best place to live and no. 9 best place to raise a family in the Somerset County area, the No. 87 best place to raise a family and the no. 45 best places to buy a house in the New Jersey area.

Here's how Watchung ranked in comparison.

Watchung was ranked as the 4,657th best place to live in America and the 170th best place to live in New Jersey.

Watchung received an overall Niche grade of A-. Here's how Niche graded Watchung in the following categories:

Public Schools: A+
Crime & Safety: B
Housing: C-
Nightlife: B
Good for Families: A
Diversity: A-

Watchung also ranked as the No. 17 best place to live and no. best place to raise a family in the Somerset County area, the No. 129 best place to raise a family and the no. 45 best public schools in the New Jersey area.

The top 10 best places to live in New Jersey are:

1. Princeton Junction

2. Upper Montclair

3. Princeton

4. Princeton Meadows

5. Ridgewood

6. Waterfront in Jersey City

7. Westfield

8. Short Hills

9. Highland Park

10. Haddonfield

The top 10 best places to live in America are:

1. Bluemont, neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia

2. Carmel, Indiana

3. Overlake, neighborhood in Redmond, Washington

4. College Terrace, neighborhood in Palo Alto, California

5. Davis Island, neighborhood in Tampa, Florida

6. Rose Isle, neighborhood in Orlando, Florida

7. Colonial Village, neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia

8. Okemos, Michigan

9. Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania

10. Radnor/Fort Myer Heights, neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia

Niche released its "Best Places to Live" rankings on Monday. The publication says its goal is to "provide accurate, comparable and thorough evaluations of places." Using data from government and private sources, Niche grades the places evaluated for the rankings on factors like public schools, crime and safety and housing.
You can see the full Niche "Best Place to Live" rankings for 2019 here. Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.
Subscribe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Green Brook Named Among New Jersey's Best Places To Live

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
GREEN BROOK, NJ - Green Brook was named as one of the best places to live in America for 2019, according to a new set of rankings released by Niche. Green Brook was ranked as the 48th best place to live in New Jersey and the 1,814th best place to live in America.

# data[].attributes.body
My Central Jersey, "Green Brook mom hopes for a place for her kids to eat and do homework"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
CLOSE

Green Brook resident Rosario Valiente, 30, works two jobs to be able to provide for her daughters, Marian, 13 and Genesis, 10. The single mother works hard to make ends meet but is unable to provide some basic necessities for her children, including a comfortable place at home to eat and do their homework.

"A desk and dining furniture set would make a big difference in our lives because right now we don't have any," Valiente explained. "Sometimes the kids have to eat on the carpet and the carpet can be a mess.

"We have a very old, little desk for her computer and it's sometimes falling apart," Valiente added.

Like all parents, Valiente strives to spend time with her daughters and make sure that they get to do the things they like to do.

"My oldest daughter loves to play basketball and the little one loves swimming," Valiente said. "When we don't have anything to do we watch movies or play a dancing video game, we do a little exercise with samba at home and we like to go for a walk in the park."

READ: Courier News Wish Book 2018: How to help your neighbors in need

READ: Courier News Wish Book 2018: Other agencies and people who need assistance

Marian and Genesis love coming to the Somerset Hills YMCA for summer camp and swim classes. The YMCA supports the Valiente family by providing financial assistance to her so that her daughters may pursue their passions for swimming and attending camp while enjoying a safe and nurturing environment at the Y.

Even though she struggles, Valiente is truly a humble woman and tries to instill that quality in her daughters.

"Yesterday we saw a very old grandpa in the street when we were driving and he was in a very bad condition and it was cold outside, he was asking for help, for donations," Valiente said. "We called him and gave him a little bit.

"Sometimes I complain in my life when other people don't have enough, they don't have even things to eat, " Valiente added. "I felt so bad with myself because sometimes I regret the conditions I'm living in but after that, I thank God because at least we have a home and something to eat at home."

For Valiente, it's all about family.

"I tell my daughter that and I tell her to be grateful all the time that we are together," she said. "The most important thing is that we are together."

Wish 11

Dining set, desk and chair: $700

How to support the Courier News Wish Book

This year, we are asking our fellow community members to consider assisting 15 Central Jersey individuals and families featured in the 2018 Courier News Wish Book program.

Checks must be made out to the United Way of Northern New Jersey, which manages a separate checking account at Peapack-Gladstone Bank just for the Courier News Wish Book project. We keep track of the checks as they come in and direct the United Way of Northern New Jersey to write checks from the account. Mail your donations to the Courier News Wish Book, 92 E. Main St., Suite 202, Somerville, NJ, 08876. If you wish to be acknowledged in a follow-up story about the program, let us know. You also can remain anonymous. In addition, you can take direct action by going to our separate list of all agency and individual requests for this year's program. You can contact the agency directly if you want to help with a request.

We sometimes receive calls from readers who wish to donate a needed item rather than cash. In those cases, we direct the caller to the agency to see if the request can be accommodated. Last year, two wishes were filled in this way.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Carolyn Sampson at 908-243-6601 or csamspon@mycentraljersey.

Read or Share this story: https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/outreach/caring-communities/2018/11/25/green-brook-mom-hopes-place-her-kids-eat-and-do-homework/1757414002/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Green Brook mom hopes for a place for her kids to eat and do homework

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CLOSE Green Brook resident Rosario Valiente, 30, works two jobs to be able to provide for her daughters, Marian, 13 and Genesis, 10. The single mother works hard to make ends meet but is unable to provide some basic necessities for her children, including a comfortable place at home to eat and do their homework.

# data[].attributes.body
I read several community newspapers and websites and learned much about community events, critical issues, and community values. The following are a compilation of my field notes recorded during my research, and the articles themselves are linked.

The town’s local paper, the Green Brook Gazette, is mostly mailed out for advertisements, but the article “Community Celebrates National Night Out” also described a positive event in the community. The National Night Out is an annual event that occurs on the first Tuesday in August and is part of a “community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.” Additionally, it “enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.” This event included activities for children, a meet and greet with local police officers, giveaways and music, while representatives from local community organizations and local restaurants contributed as well. To me, this is very revealing about what this community values; it is clear there is an effort to build connections and actively improve the quality of life in town.

The www.tapinto.net  NJ-Patch article “Green Brook Named Among New Jersey's Best Places To Live”  revealed a strong priority put on comparing and competing with the surrounding areas, especially Watchung. There is a long-standing rivalry between Green Brook and Watchung that is rooted much deeper than just sports teams; the divide seems to be based more in status and in class.  The article compared Niche’s rankings of Green Brook and Watchung: Green Brook was ranked the 48th best place to live in New Jersey; Watchung was ranked the 170th best place to live in New Jersey. Green Brook was ranked as the 1,814th best place to live in America; Watchung was ranked as 4,657th best place to live in America. Green Brook also ranked as the No. 5 best place to live and raise a family in the Somerset County area, while Watchung ranked as the No. 17 best place to live and raise a family in the Somerset County area.  Green Brook received an overall Niche grade of A+ and Watchung received an overall Niche grade of A- with the following breakdown:

Green Brook Public Schools: A

Watchung Public Schools: A+

Green Brook Crime & Safety: B

Watching Crime & Safety: B

Green Brook Housing: B

Watchung Housing: C-

Green Brook Nightlife: A-

Watchung Nightlife: B

Green Brook Good for Families: A+

Watching Good for Families: A

Green Brook Diversity: A

Watchung Diversity: A-

I was surprised that Green Brook was ranked more favorably since I have always heard that Watchung was “better than us” all around, but it seems public schools is the only area they did slightly better in. This article was shared on our union’s Facebook page and has afforded the town “bragging rights.”

However, the www.mycentraljersey.com article “Green Brook Mom Hopes for a Place for her Kids to Eat and do Homework” shows a very different side to the community. Despite being in a wealthier part of Somerset County, many families still struggle financially.  This article is actually about a former student of mine, and our staff put together a collection to donate after seeing this article online; we were all a bit shocked and unnerved to know how much we take for granted when we think about our students' home lives.  According to the article, “Green Brook resident Rosario Valiente, 30, works two jobs to be able to provide for her daughters. The single mother works hard to make ends meet but is unable to provide some basic necessities for her children, including a comfortable place at home to eat and do their homework.” The family relies on the Somerset Hills YMCA and local community resources for support. Valiente said, "I felt so bad with myself because sometimes I regret the conditions I'm living in but after that, I thank God because at least we have a home and something to eat at home." It is hard to reconcile this story with the data from other articles, and it really shows that there are two sides to Green Brook, and that this affects the students in our classrooms.  On a positive note, the fact that the community rallied behind this family to provide support shows that there is value in helping out neighbors.

# data[].attributes.body
What do you already know about the cultures of the community?  What insiders do you know?
I teach in Green Brook, NJ, which is 4.6 square miles and was once part of North Plainfield. It has a population of 7,210 people, which has the 4th smallest population compared to 10 other places in the area. This suburban area juxtaposes elements of city and rural living. Along route 22, there are an abundance of strip malls and chain stores and restaurants. Some local businesses are still mixed in (a liquor store and sub shop are right around the corner from my school). However, just a few minutes away is Washington State Park, a scenic overlook with a trail through acres of woods.  There is also an economic juxtaposition in this community:  on my drive to work, I pass million-dollar properties, literally looking down on the rest of town on mountain nicknamed “Top of the World.” I also pass small, dilapidated one-story houses and modest apartment complexes along the highway. There seems to be a split between blue-collar and white-collar workforces.

The community insiders I know are my colleagues who live in town, as well as my students, who tell me about their experiences living in Green Brook.  For example, our school secretary has lived in town and worked there for decades, and has told me about what the school was like when it was a high school instead of a middle school. My co-worker has also told me about local restaurants and businesses to try out rather than relying on the big-brand name chains.

I teach seventh grade ELA at Green Brook Middle School, and I know more about my specific school than I do about the community as a whole. Green Brook Middle School houses grades five through eight, and according to the NJDOE School Performance Report (2017), has about 430 students enrolled total in all grades. According to the NJDOE School Performance Report (2017), 17% of students enrolled were classified with a learning disability, 6% were economically disadvantaged, and only 1% ELL. The school as a whole is improving with chronic absenteeism, but not with students with disabilities or economic disadvantages. The NJDOE School Performance Report (2017) shows that students are “on track for success” and are “showing progress,” but grades five and six have visibly lower student growth results than grades seven and eight. In terms of diversity, the same report shows that 48.6% of the school is white, 30.3%  Asian, 12.4% Hispanic, 5.7% African American, while the rest is a mixture. 78.7% of students speak English at home, 7.8% speak Chinese, 2.8% speak Spanish at home, while the remainder speaks a mixture of languages such as Hindi.

What kinds of connections do you have with this culture?
My connections to the culture of Green Brook is limited to my teaching. This is my fourth year in the district, but I do not live in town. My interactions with parents at school-related events are the extent of my involvement in the local community. I do not know much about the specifics of the larger community’s demographics and subcultures.  There is not a “center of town” or local hangout that acts as a hub for the community, so it has been difficult getting to know the surrounding area. One of my biggest connections is that I run the newspaper club, so I often read about local and school events, but I facilitate so that the students do the bulk of the research.

In what ways are you either an insider or an outsider already?
I live almost an hour away from where I teach in Green Brook, so I am more of an outsider. My insider status comes from teaching there, but it is limited since I only started working there four years ago. It took a while for me to feel accepted into the tight-knit school community; there was a lot of turnover at the school, so some remaining, experienced staff members were not exactly welcoming at first. Also, the students often “tested” new staff to push the boundaries since what was acceptable was not clearly defined during the transitions between administrations. Over the years, it has improved; I have established a name for myself and have assimilated into the larger culture by becoming involved in things like PLCs, potlucks, and the union. Each year, I feel less like less of an outsider at school, but I still feel disconnected from the district and community as a whole. I have been to the local high school once for articulation, but have never stepped foot in our elementary school, and it is rare for me to stay for after-school for evening events since I live so far away from the area.

What do you hope to find out about the community?
I would like to learn more about the economic gaps that exist within the community-- the “haves” and the “have nots” as my colleagues have described them. I would like to research information about the town’s diverse racial/ethnic/linguistic makeup, as well as explore the economic disparity that exists within such a small radius. I am interested to learn more about specific subcultures and to know more about what goes on in the local community and how to become more of an "insider." I would also like to know more about how much the curriculum at my school matches the culture of  Green Brook.

References
NJDOE School Performance Report: Green Brook. (2017). Retrieved from https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/runreport.aspx?type=school&county=35&district=1810&school=030&year=2016-2017

Town Charts: United States data powerfully illustrated and interactive. (2016). Retrieved March 8, 2019, from http://www.towncharts.com/New-Jersey/Demographics/Green-Brook-township-NJ-Demographics-data.html