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Moorestown principal details HIB/SSDS findings, emphasizes prevention and student programs
Summary
Principal Sherry Caravano presented the district’s Student Safety Data System report covering incidents to Dec. 31, described prevention programs and training, and said the full SSDS PDF will be posted on the district website tomorrow.
Sherry Caravano, principal at WAMS and the district’s HIB coordinator, presented the Student Safety Data System (SSDS) report to the Moorestown Township Public School District Board on May 20, saying the presentation covers incidents logged through Dec. 31 and that the district will post the full report PDF to its website tomorrow.
Caravano outlined required reporting elements, including incident tallies and descriptions of trainings and programs the district runs to prevent bullying. She identified recurring district practices such as a week of respect, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in elementary cafeterias, Quaker Spotlight recognition at WAMS and the Woot Woot Wagon incentive program, and age‑appropriate character/SEL lessons adapted by building.
“We are required to report certain information twice a year to the state,” Caravano said, and noted the report she reviewed came from the fall portion of the school year. She said administration, counselors and anti‑bullying specialists are compiling the spring data now for submission later this year.
When asked about trend analysis, Caravano said the district focuses primarily on the types of HIB incidents and repeated behaviors rather than raw counts. She described a monthly discipline committee that reviews write‑ups across grade levels and time‑of‑day so schools can target prevention (for example, additional supervision or programs during lunch and recess). “Trends, yes, but not necessarily quantity,” she said, emphasizing prevention over punitive responses.
Caravano also described how the district uses a prescribed SEL curriculum (Character Strong) while retaining a toolkit that allows buildings to add targeted lessons or activities as needs arise. She said staff meet quarterly with students to share larger messages and that some adaptations occur mid‑year when behavior patterns emerge.
The board was told the state requires submission of the SSDS and that the district’s self‑assessment and the official state grade are part of the public record: the full worksheet and criteria will be available on the district website. The presentation served as the biannual public review of the district’s HIB reporting and prevention work; the superintendent and board members indicated ongoing monitoring and follow‑up would continue.
The board moved on to other business after a brief Q&A; the next district SSDS update will reflect data compiled for the second half of the school year.
