Theresa Craig
St. Bartholomew School
AdvancEd Executive Summary

Description of the School

St. Bartholomew School is a coeducational Catholic parish school for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8. Our daily school hours are 7:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. Located in East Brunswick, NJ, the school was established in 1964 under the guidance of Monsignor J. Morgan Kelly. The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, administered our school from its inception until 1996. Monsignor Michael J. Alliegro served as the second pastor. Currently, the school is operated under the administration of the Reverend Thomas J. Walsh, Pastor, Mrs. Theresa Craig, Principal, and Mrs. Veronica Tkacenko, Assistant Principal. St. Bartholomew School serves youth from Middlesex and Somerset Counties and is staffed by clergy and laity.

The enrollment is currently 424 students. St. Bartholomew School admits students of all races, ethnicities, and religions. Of the 424 students, 8% are Asian, 4% are African American, 78% are Caucasian, and 10% are multi-racial. Twenty-three percent of students are Hispanic or Latino. Eighty-nine percent of students are Catholic. Enrollment has steadily increased since 2013 when less than 250 students were enrolled. It is the Leadership Team's goal to continually work to retain and increase enrollment.

Our teachers, striving to teach as Jesus did, are dedicated to the spiritual, moral, academic, and physical development of each child. Currently, St. Bartholomew School has a Principal, an Assistant Principal, a Director of Safety and Security, 24 full-time teachers, 6 part-time teachers, a librarian, a full-time guidance counselor, full-time nursing staff, 11 teaching assistants, and 6 After School Care staff. Additionally, the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey provides 4 teachers and 1 teacher's assistant for students in need of remediation, speech/language services, ESL instruction, and students with learning disabilities. All children are valued as children of God and are encouraged to develop a positive image of themselves and others as they begin to live the Gospel message. Furthermore, our school is a place where students, faculty, and staff grow in the awareness that they are an important part of God's family, and that as members of God's family, they will be called upon to responsibly meet the challenges and needs of the world they live in. Here, within the context of a loving Christian environment, in which Christian principles can freely be woven into all areas of the curriculum, and where our school community can worship God daily through prayer, service, and liturgy, the students and faculty grow closer to God and to the plan that He has for each of them.

As members of Jesus' Church, we are familiar with his command to "love our neighbor as ourselves," and that our neighbor is anyone in need. In response to Jesus' command to love, our students reach out to those in local and global communities. They respond to the call to share God's unconditional love for them with those less fortunate by donating time, treasure, and talent. These works of mercy further help raise the students' awareness of worldwide issues of peace and justice, involving the needs of others that go beyond their physical needs. In these ways, our students, faculty, and staff keep God's love alive in their lives and in the lives of others.

Our St. Bartholomew School Family is a partnership of the Pastor, students, faculty, staff, parents/guardians, priests, deacons, Parish, Home School Association (HSA) members, Stewardship Committee, and volunteer parents/guardians who are dedicated to the school and to upholding its ideals and principles. All members of this partnership are indispensable to the academic life of our school community.

Our mission is to love, educate, and inspire our students to live the teachings of Jesus Christ as they become knowledgeable, aware young adults who can make valuable contributions and a moral difference to the world in which they live. Accordingly, St. Bartholomew School provides our students with a rich academic environment consistent with current educational best practices. We provide an integrated curriculum, project-based learning, and an emphasis on higher-order thinking skills. Recognizing that Christ is present in each of us, St. Bartholomew School responds to the Church's challenge to serve all students possible. To accommodate the needs of all students and to address the needs of students with learning disabilities, Compensatory Education, Supplemental Instruction, Speech/Language, and ESL are provided by the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey to students who qualify. Within the classroom, provision is made for differentiated instruction. By presenting such a comprehensive, diversified academic program, the uniqueness of our students' talents and needs is met so they can develop their skills to their full potential, while acquiring a genuine love and respect for learning.

School's Purpose

The mission of St. Bartholomew School is to love, educate, and inspire our children to live the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our mission statement drives everything we do so that we develop lifelong learners who are strong citizens with a strong Catholic identity. We affirm our mission statement daily in the way we love, educate, and inspire our students and model love of God and others. We are committed to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our vision states that we seek to nurture the whole child socially, academically, spiritually, intellectually, and morally whereby students will construct knowledge in the context of doctrinally-sound faith. Each student will reach his/her full potential as a person created in God's image. Our students will graduate to become responsible, productive citizens with strong critical thinking and excellent academic skills who promote a spirit of charity, social justice, and love of God and others. An overarching theme of academic optimism, equity, and excellence will prevail. To accomplish these goals, students experience a rigorous, relevant, comprehensive, standards-based curriculum delivered in partnership with family, community, and competent staff in a safe, nurturing environment. Best practice instruction that is outcome-based is provided to challenge students to become purposeful, critical thinkers and productive group participants who will meet the challenges of the world by applying and synthesizing knowledge.

While the Catholic Church teaches that parents serve as the primary educators of their children in the truths of the Church, St. Bartholomew School actively assists parents in their ministry. Faith Formation classes have been offered by priests, deacons, and the principal to assist parents and guardians in this important role. Each student, made in the image and likeness of God, is unique. We are a community of diverse learners, so we share a commitment to implementing our vision and goals for educating the whole child. Our goals for teaching and learning include rigorous expectations for all students in an environment that transmits our faith and Catholic identity. Our students experience unconditional love and acceptance so that they may understand God's grace. In the words of Pope Francis, we must have "a heart without limits, but not just a heart: also a certain gaze, the sweetness of Jesus' gaze, which often is more eloquent than many words." At St. Bartholomew School, we are dedicated to minister in this way to the students in our care.

We continue a journey of professional learning to support our journey of continuous improvement. Technology has become an essential and integral part of the teaching and learning at St. Bartholomew School. We have ensured that our teachers have received professional development to support learning utilizing a balanced approach. Administration has made a commitment to assure that each student and educator has access to state-of-the-art technology and to learning technical skills to empower students' learning. With our employment of a technology teacher and a technology support person, students' experiences reach beyond Google Suite applications to the ability to utilize educational apps, create instructional videos, utilize Google Slides and create movies, learn keyboarding skills, and integrate STREAM. The Technology Plan is consistently updated and includes a progression of purchasing technology, professional development, and teaching applications that allow students and educators to become life-long, engaged learners. Classrooms (including Music) were updated with new Vibe boards in 2024. This year's improvements include the installation and configuration of a new server infrastructure and system virtualization, the annual purchase of 40 Chromebooks, addition to four Phonak systems for students with auditory processing disorders, improved wireless access, and an advanced emergency management platform. The projector and audio systems in the auditorium have been upgraded and a camera system to live-stream events from the auditorium installed. Technology is carefully purchased to align with our vision and goals. The principal works closely with the Pastor, Stewardship Council, and Business Manager to ensure that funds are allocated wisely and feedback from teachers is considered before additional purchases are made. Equipment and technology acquisition is monitored for maintenance and appropriate use.

Differentiated professional development is constructed and aligned to goals based on research, effective teaching and learning, results of surveys of teachers, and formative and summative evaluations. Recent professional development included the following: Differentiation of Instruction, Project-based Learning, Classroom Management, using Al, Reading Comprehension, Responsive Classroom, and Faith Formation. Teachers participate in Professional Book Clubs and receive scholarly books to further enhance teaching and learning. Recent titles include: The Power of Our Words, Teasing, Tattling & Defiance, and Strengthening Parent-Teacher Connections. Professional development is evaluated for individual and program effectiveness, which is measured by resultant changes in teaching practices and achievement of goals. The quality of teaching and learning through a journey of continuous improvement is further enhanced through collaboration with peers.

Teachers participate in Professional Learning Communities whereby teachers engage in reflective practice to improve curriculum and instruction. We ensure that school-wide practices and programs focus on a rigorous curriculum and delivery of standards-based instruction. Peer mentoring among teachers is standard so that master teachers may assist newer teachers to embrace academic equity and excellence. Administration builds a professional culture by developing a shared understanding and commitment to high standards for all students. Teachers and administration participate in collaborative data analysis by collecting and analyzing assessment data to make decisions for differentiated instruction, adjustments to instruction, and to design assessments that monitor and inform learning.

Student learning has been enhanced further by our librarian who was the former head of Youth Services at the East Brunswick Public Library. The librarian has been a member of numerous committees including Caldecott Honors. The lending library houses over 7,000 books along with a computerized system for book tracking and asset management.

Our curriculum is aligned with Diocesan and New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The focus of the curriculum goes beyond a skills-based approach to a process that embraces problem-solving, critical thinking, higher-order thinking, and deep learning. Teachers facilitate students in understanding, interpreting, and applying knowledge so that understanding can be transferred to other areas. Teachers continue to collaborate to create unit plans that integrate technology, contain essential questions, include various formative and summative assessments, higher-order thinking and critical thinking components, closure activities, and Catholic identity. Teachers are implementing Best Practice whereby the learning is set up to be more student-centered, collaborative, and interactive. Best Practice involves teachers adding a widening repertoire of choices to allow students to move among a richer array of activities to promote collaboration, actively involve students, balance teacher and student-directed activities, deepen learning, balance traditional and interactive activities, and utilize assessments effectively.

Administration monitors instructional practices and student progress to ensure that all students are prepared for and have access to a challenging curriculum. Administration also conducts frequent classroom visits and walkthrough observations to provide constructive and meaningful feedback to faculty and staff that improves practice and student learning.

A full-time guidance counselor provides students and staff with extra support. The counselor also conducts bi-weekly Life Skills (SEL) classes. Lunch Bunch is a program offered through the Counseling Department for students in Grades 1-8. Lunch Bunch is a weekly group meeting of students with a focus on developing effective social skills in the school setting. This year, 50% of eligible students participate. Individual counseling sessions also take place with parent/guardian permission.

Service projects are held through-out the school year led by Administration, teachers, or our Home School Association which include Operation Rice Bowl through Catholic Relief Services, fundraisers to support Catholic Charities (sock drives, coat drives, hurricane relief), purchasing Christmas gifts for Catholic Charities, a Mission Fair to support Missionary Childhood Association, collecting donations for St. Vincent DePaul Society, a cereal box collection challenge to benefit a local food pantry, and other individual classroom projects.

National Junior Honor Society is available to qualifying students. Students elected to NJHS excel in academics, leadership, service, and citizenship. NJHS students conduct service projects, which recently included fundraising for animal shelters and a First Responder Thank You Breakfast.

Faculty participates in a Spirituality Day, Catholic Faith Formation by Pastor, Associate Pastor, Principal, and Diocese, and a retreat at San Alfonso Retreat Center.

As a part of the Holocaust Curriculum required in NJ, eighth grade students, faculty, and staff participate in a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. with other students from the community. The trip is funded by the Daniel Pearl Education Center (DPEC)/Temple B'nai Shalom. In cooperation with DPEC, a presentation that was open to the community was held at the school in 2026 by Maud Dahme, a Holocaust Survivor.

The formation of our students is further enhanced by our Fine Arts Program, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. Students participate in weekly Art, Physical Education, Music, Spanish, and Technology classes that remain a strong component of the curriculum. A concerted effort has taken place to significantly increase our extracurricular offerings to all students to prepare them for the challenges of the world by providing unique opportunities to engage students.

Accomplishments include the addition of the following clubs: Art, Boxing & Fitness, Chess, Cooking, Gymnastics, Homework, Mad Science, Newspaper, Sign Language, Theater and an Extracurricular Fair. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 may participate in Young Voices Chorus. Students in Grades 3 through 8 may participate in Chorus, Grades 4 through 8 in Band and instrumental lessons, and Grades 6 through 8 in Drama. A Master Class by a Broadway performer is offered to Drama students. All students perform in a Christmas Extravaganza and Band and Chorus participate in a Winter and Spring Concert. Students in Grades K through 8 may participate in Cross Country and Spring Track and Grades 1-8 in Basketball. Students in grades 6 through 8 may participate in Volleyball and Baseball/Softball. Teachers also offer remedial and enrichment classes after school. Fifty-five percent of our students engage in extracurricular activities, and 20 teachers and teaching assistants serve as moderators.

Administration also ensures that a safe environment exists by proactively involving stakeholders to address the physical and emotional safety and security of students and staff. A full-time Director of Safety and Security was hired in 2023. The Safety and Security Plan is consistently updated after consultation with Police, Fire, and Emergency Management Personnel from the Township and officers from the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office. Key emergency support personnel have come to the school and have monitored lockdown and shelter-in-place drills. Our Director of Safety and Security provides an annual in-service to faculty and staff about safety protocols and procedures. Police officers have been hired for certain events to ensure student and faculty safety. The school has been awarded security grants that are being utilized to update the hardscape of the plant and infrastructure. Our state-of-the-art two-way intercom system was upgraded in 2026 and covers all areas of the school. The closed-circuit surveillance system was updated with additional cameras and locked entries/fobs ensure that only appropriate personnel may enter the school. Exterior and interior security doors have been installed throughout the plant as well as a "mantrap" at the main entrance. A school dress code exists and is enforced. The Parent/Guardian/Student Handbook is updated annually and there is a Code of Conduct with behavioral expectations. A Memorandum of Agreement has been signed.

Full-time registered nurses provide instruction to the staff on OSHA requirements, blood-borne pathogens, asthma and allergies, and Epi-pen administration. They also monitor immunization requirements and health records and administer to the health and safety needs of the students and staff. Faculty and staff are CPR certified and receive training on the use of tourniquets and many of the staff are First Aid certified. All staff receive Seizure Awareness Training upon hire.

The physical plant is evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure management of the organization, operation, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment. A Parish Capital Campaign was conducted by the Pastor, and new windows were installed throughout the school. Another Capital Campaign is being planned so that air conditioning may be installed. Prior to 2020 the following improvements were completed: new Pre-K playground with fence, replacement of Main Playground fence, new Gym floor and tiles, new bleachers in Gym, ceiling tiles replaced, new window shades in classrooms, innovative classroom design for a middle school classroom, installation of a new stage in the auditorium, new office furniture for the front offices and new couches outside the office, Music Room updates, implementation of next phase of the Technology Plan. Since 2020, dedicated front office space was created in the front of the school and air conditioning was added. The Faculty Room was moved and updated, and the Counselor's and Nurse's offices were remodeled. In 2026, the school electrical panels were replaced, and the auditorium floor was refinished.

Collaboration by administration with key stakeholders is also invaluable to promoting the success of every student at St. Bartholomew School. Quarterly Stewardship Council and monthly Home School Association (HSA) meetings take place to ensure that key stakeholders are engaged in a proactive way. The Stewardship Council consists of professionals and parent representatives that oversee the finances of the parish and school. The Ave Maria Endowment Fund continues to grow monetarily to ensure the future of the school so we may continue to love, educate, and inspire our children to live the teachings of Jesus Christ as we have done for the over 60 years. A variety of programs that develop positive family and stakeholder partnerships are established to build community and celebrate school and student successes. Effective public information strategies to communicate with families and the community have been implemented including e-mail, websites, Facebook, Instagram, SchoolMessenger Alert System, newsletters, bi-weekly principal letters to parents/guardians and parishioners, TV monitors, Back-to-School Night, Parent/Guardian/Teacher Conferences, and Faith Formation classes. Parents/guardians and families are invited to many evening events including International Night, PBL and Literacy Nights, Passion Project Night, Sweetheart Dance, Story Hour, Halloween Party, and more. Sacramental formation meetings and retreats are also offered. Administration also collaborates with community agencies to ensure equitable and open access for students to all venues that are required and legally permissible including services for IDEA, Chapter 192 and 193 services, Title funds, textbooks, nursing, technology, professional development, and busing.

Jesus, the Master Teacher, is the reason for our school. Our Catholic identity defines our professional culture. We embrace the charism of our founders so that the Catholic spirit epitomizes our Catholic school. After over 60 years of excellence, it is with grateful hearts and God's grace that we continuously affirm our Catholic heritage throughout every aspect of our daily lives. Our administration, faculty, and staff serve as models for living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our every action is directed toward establishing and sustaining a school whereby we know, love, and serve Christ through our daily community prayer, our rituals, prayer services, and weekly Mass attendance. We are continuously reminded of the presence of Christ in our classrooms, cafeteria, faculty meetings, Gym, and at every event we attend. It is our Catholicism that best enables us to live our mission, achieve our vision, and express our Catholic faith: a faith we embrace through our prayer, curriculum, Code of Conduct, social events, dress code, athletics, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and service projects that reflect Catholic Social Teachings. In the words of Pope Francis, we are a school that "embodies the virtues of compassion, tenderness, patience, and welcoming" to students of all races, ethnicities, and religions so that everyone in our community experiences "unconditional love and acceptance" in order to understand the gift of God's grace.

To foster and embrace our Catholic identity, we nurture our faith development by way of our weekly attendance at Mass that is hosted by our students. Spiritual retreats are attended by our faculty and students. Our Catholicity is further present through our Empowering God's Children Program, attendance at special prayer services and Sacramental Preparation Retreats. Our beautiful Church, St. Joseph Garden, and Prayer Garden offer places where staff and students can rest and reflect in prayer. On First Fridays, faculty and students have access to Church where they can experience the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and find tranquility and the true and lasting peace that comes from Christ. Teachers gather for community prayer before each day begins and then the entire school community prays together before we begin each day. Eighth grade students lead the daily communal prayer where we also pray for members of our community who have asked for our prayers. We announce birthdays and other special events unique to our school or parish. Various forms of prayer are used, and traditional Catholic prayers are also recited as well as reflections. Our Pastor, Fr. Thomas, and Associate Pastor, Fr. Peter, remind us that we should always carry a rosary and teach us about our Catholic faith, rituals, and traditions during homilies at Friday Mass. Students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Christmas and Easter. Students lead us in special prayer services, such as the Thanksgiving Prayer Service, the Prayer Service for American Heroes, Stations of the Cross, and May Crowning, and weekly liturgical celebrations. Special liturgical celebrations include Buddy Mass on the Feast of Guardian Angels, Christmas Mass, Family Day Mass, and Baccalaureate Mass. The bond we share through prayer and liturgy enhances the Catholic identity of our school. Our Christian spirit is not limited to these moments. Rather, these group gatherings serve to reaffirm who we are as a Catholic people. We reflect with enthusiasm these values in the culture of our school community, and this is what makes us unique. Our mission and vision of academic excellence and equity is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus as a natural progression of our Catholic identity. Our Catholic mission is lived every day so that we may know, love, and serve God more fully.

It is with a grateful heart that we serve the students at St. Bartholomew School as we continue to teach love of God and others. Many have been nurtured in faith, hope, and love and we now are working to pass the gift of St. Bartholomew School on as we serve as stewards for these gifts. The future of the Catholic Church is seen in the eyes of our students and in the spirit of Christ that fills their hearts. Our Church needs the energy and joy that these students embody. May our school continue to be a place of love, welcoming, and compassion where the love of Christ is experienced and nurtured so that all students may be fully educated: mind, body, and spirit.

Our Catholic schools exist, primarily, to teach the Gospel message and enliven our students to have a personal relationship with Jesus who is their hope and companion for life! - Most Rev. James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA

Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement

Some of the notable achievements in the last 6 years include:

• Hired a full-time Director of Safety and Security
• New windows throughout the plant
• Addition of window security film to all exterior doors and designated windows
• Upgraded network firewall
• Upgraded phone system and added phones to all classrooms
• Upgraded video surveillance system including vape detectors in upstairs bathrooms
• Upgraded bell system
• Added advanced Emergency Management System (including upgraded paging system)
• Upgraded to Vibe boards in all classrooms including the Music Room
• Added enough Chromebooks for 1:1 use in Grades 2-8
• Added four PHONAK systems to classrooms for students with auditory processing disorders
• An upgraded sound system, lighting system, and stage lighting in the school cafeteria
• Live-streaming system installed in the auditorium
• Two grants received for security enhancements of hardscape and infrastructure
• Doubled the number of cameras in our state-of-the-art closed circuit surveillance system
• Refinished the cafeteria floors
• Installation of mantrap at main entrance
• Exterior and interior security doors installed
• Professional campus mapping completed for security purposes
• Front office redesign and addition of air conditioning
• Replaced ceiling tiles around the plant
• New modern office furniture in Nurse's office
• The Counselor's office was remodeled
• Heat blocking window film was installed on the windows in the gym
• Growth monetarily of the Ave Maria Endowment Fund
• Updating of Strategic Plan
• Increased enrollment
• Continued intensive professional development for faculty
• Increased service to community and number of service projects
• Increased scholarships for students attending Catholic high schools
• Increased extracurricular offerings
• Offering of Parent/Guardian Faith Formation

Areas for improvement over the next 3 years:

• Updating access control system (in process)
• Continuing to replace ceiling tiles around the plant
• Continued progression of Technology Plan
• Continued evaluation and mapping of curriculum
• Continue to enhance PBL and STREAM
• Continue to work on differentiated instruction
• Continue to increase and evaluate extracurricular offerings
• Continue to increase Faith Formation classes for parents/guardians
• Air conditioning in the West Wing
• Continue to improve MTSS (multi-tiered system of support)

Updated by Mrs. Theresa Craig, M.Ed., Principal, 9/30/2026
(Originally written by Mrs. Ann Wierzbicki, R.N., M.A.E/Ed.S., Principal, 10/1/2020)

The mission of St. Bartholomew School is to love, educate, and inspire our children to live the teachings of Jesus Christ.