Principal's Message
Honiss School - Principal’s Message
From the Office of Dr. Karen Bennett, Principal
Welcome to the “Home of the Honiss Hawks”
"Building A Culture of Kindness: Together We Thrive!"
Dear Honiss Parents, Students, and Staff
Welcome to the 2023–2024 school year. I am very excited to return to another school year and honored to serve as your principal. I joined the Dumont Public Schools in 2002 and am entering my twentieth year as the principal of Honiss School. I am looking forward to working with all of you as we ensure that each student is provided with opportunities to “Be the Best That They Can Be!”
Honiss School is a K-8 school, which provides a nurturing safe, and secure environment, in which self-respect and integrity can flourish. All students will share responsibility for their education while maintaining dignity in their actions. We foster academic success, personal responsibility, and discipline with dignity in a safe and secure environment. Hands-on experiences as well as interdisciplinary planning, allow our students to make the necessary connections between all subjects.
Our instructional program meets and exceeds the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in all subject areas. Our Language Arts program in the elementary grades is researched-based, reflecting a balanced literacy approach. We have adopted Guided Reading as the methodology by which to best educate our students in Language Arts Literacy. This approach is expanded in the upper grades to involve literacy circles, peer reviews, book talks, and the introduction of novel studies. The mathematics program continues to blend concrete and abstract experiences with practical real-life applications. Our students participate in routine assessments designed to provide meaningful data for further decision-making and curriculum planning Science is a critical part of each grade level. Students develop questions about their environment and participate in the recording of observations of phenomena. Our labs are equipped with technology stations and include Smartboard technologies. The Social Studies Program is unique in its development of an understanding of world cultures as well as United States history.
The integration of digital literacy skills continues to enrich every aspect of the curriculum so that students can compete and connect on a global scale. The Careers and College Readiness Course (CCR) begins with exploring the world of careers and linking colleges to areas of interest. This blended learning course also provides opportunities for students to learn about financial literacy. Students in middle school use multimedia for research and presentations, collaborations, and to organize, plan and analyze data. In the elementary grades, students focus on using technology to enhance the classroom program, while also focusing on collaboration. Students in most grades benefit from a 1-1 Chromebook initiative. In addition, Art, Music, Physical Education, and World Language (Spanish), courses provide additional opportunities for curriculum integration. These courses allow students to experience an in-depth study of each discipline.
Honiss School recognizes the importance of the development of the whole child. Students’ social and emotional growth needs are met through a variety of programs and integration within the curriculum. The fine and performing arts programs offer many opportunities for student involvement. Annually, students showcase their talents in Winter and Spring performances which include the orchestra, band, choir, and a school-wide art show. Student groups consist of Student Council, Peer Mediation, and after-school extracurricular activities (Basketball and Cheerleading). Cumulatively, these experiences help students to make appropriate choices for healthy adolescent development.
Our PTA continues to provide an outstanding level of support for the students of Honiss School. By supporting important school programs, and assemblies, our PTA positively contributes to all students and our fine faculty. Our active PTA has made a significant difference in the lives of our students and has received New Jersey State Awards for these efforts.
Lovell J. Honiss School is truly a progressive educational environment, which values the contributions of each child as they move through the developmental continuum of grades K-8.
I am extremely honored to be the leader of this great school.
