Bradford School, the University Magnet, continues its dynamic partnership with Montclair State University (MSU), our walking-distance neighbor.  This unique collaboration affords many opportunities to share resources, facilities, and teaching and learning experiences among Bradford’s 460 students, their teachers, MSU faculty, and MSU students.

Bradford School’s Mission Statement:

We are dedicated to creating a desire for life-long learning. We accomplish this by challenging our students to succeed academically and surpass current standards. Our staff works tirelessly to bring new resources and opportunities to our students via university partnerships and community outreach programs. Our goal is to produce resourceful thinkers who independently and creatively strive to solve complex problems through reflection, risk taking, and critical evaluation, while reinforcing the fundamental values of respect and responsibility.

The Basic Program:  

Math, science, social studies, and language arts comprise the basic curriculum. Our math program is Everyday Math, and as a Columbia University Teachers College Project School, we are supported in our implementation of the Reading and Writing Workshop Model. Students also receive instruction in art, physical education, technology, library, and Spanish at least once a week.  The school has a modern, well-equipped art room, music room, and library.  The school’s state of the art technology supports the integration of technology into the K-5 curriculum. Extending beyond the regular curriculum, Bradford students are taught to become thoughtful readers and writers, creative problem solvers, and critical thinkers.

In an effort to meet the academic needs of students at all levels, Bradford students participate in district-wide programs such as SAIL (Students Accelerated In Learning) and STARS (Support To Academically Raise Standards) which provides additional academic support for students in need. In addition, there is focus on differentiated instruction in all classrooms, with several classrooms incorporating the inclusive classroom structure. Teachers are skilled at modifying the curriculum to meet the individual learning styles and needs of their students.

Parent and caregiver involvement in the classrooms is welcomed. Supported by an active and enthusiastic PTA, the extended Bradford community gathers for many occasions throughout the year, including a Pancake Breakfast, a Carnival of Math, music concerts, book fairs, a Science Fair, a community service day, and food and toy drives.

Bradford’s Partnership with MSU

The partnership with MSU enhances an elementary school that already offers top-notch technology and many other first-rate programs. Bradford students visit MSU for weekly music recitals, dance and theater performances, health and physical education, video conferencing, science experiments and visits to the Forensics Lab, and a host of other learning experiences.  

Each year, MSU physical education faculty and students facilitate an on-campus six-mile walk-a-thon for fourth and fifth graders and a three-mile walk-a-thon for second and third graders to raise money for a local charity.  Also, MSU faculty and students organize Field Days for all Bradford students, which include physical education stations and team building games on MSU’s campus. 

MSU faculty facilitate weekly Philosophy for Children sessions in many classrooms, provide Everyday Math learning stations, perform dance assemblies for our students, and serve as visiting professors to our classrooms to enhance instruction. For example, each year a professor from MSU’s History Department comes to Bradford to teach students about African-American history in Montclair.

An MSU professor from the College of Education and Human Services works on-site at Bradford one day a week to assist Bradford teachers and to provide in-service training to MSU students.  Bradford’s experienced teachers, in turn, supervise many of the university’s teachers-in-training in Bradford classrooms.  These student teachers help Bradford maintain a lower student-teacher ratio, with greater opportunities for small group learning and differentiated instruction.

Bradford At-a-Glance:

• To responsibly educate and nurture the whole child, Bradford places great emphasis on anti-bullying and character education.  Teachers implement the anti-bullying curriculum of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.  The school also offers character education through the Bradford CARES curriculum, in which children spend time learning about Bradford CARES values: Cooperation, Acceptance, Respect and Responsibility, Empathy, and Sharing. Teachers utilize the Responsive Classroom approach in their classrooms, beginning each day with a morning meeting and emphasizing the development of strong social and emotional skills.
• Bradford PTA administers an after-school enrichment program with numerous courses for K-5 including cooking, drama, science, yoga and music.
• Outdoor and environmental learning projects, including gardening, which is integrated into the science curriculum. Bradford students plant and harvest nutritious foods, and the school hosts an annual “Pesto Fest," during which students sample pesto made from basil grown in the school garden.
• Bradford Running Club’s before-school program is facilitated by the physical education teacher for grades 2-5.
• The Broadcast TV studio is used by staff and students daily for a morning program broadcast in each classroom.
• Counseling services which provide students with age-appropriate social skills programs, as well as group discussions to address anger management, divorce, social skills, and other issues. 
• A Health and Wellness program is organized by parents and faculty, emphasizing nutrition and exercise. Bradford hosts monthly Walk-to-School days and healthy breakfasts for each grade.