Bedwell Elementary School

Thank you for visiting our website to learn more about Bedwell Elementary School. We have a talented and dedicated teaching staff and strong support from both our Home School Association and our Somerset Hills Educational Foundation. These partners help to provide our students with an exceptional educational experience.

Bedwell offers a rigorous academic program to our students in grades PK-4. We grow lifelong readers and writers through our partnership with Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. Students learn the rituals, routines and craft work that goes into becoming strong readers and writers. Students also work on different skills and strategies in Reader’s Workshop from decoding to inferencing, close reading to annotating text, among others. In Writer’s Workshop, students write across many genres and for different purposes and audiences. We utilize the Math in Focus program during math instruction. The genesis of this program is the strong mathematical traditions of the Singapore math methods. Through Math in Focus, students learn first the concrete representation of math concepts, followed by abstract pictorial interpretation and finally internalize the procedural elements of math concepts.

​ Our curriculum is highly differentiated, supported by technology integration and through cross curricular instruction. We teach science using Foss Science Kits and a variety resources to teach students about the different cultures and world around them. Students also take classes in physical education, general music, art, media studies, technology and academic enrichment. Our students and teachers are supported by academic support specialists, as well as, speech and occupational therapists.

Our strong academics are balanced by a rich character education program. Bedwell utilizes a Positive Behavior Support program rooted in recognizing the positive behavior from our students that, in turn, supports our school climate. Bedwell’s character education program was recognized as the 2010 recipient of the New Jersey School of Character award.

This recognition was given jointly by the Center for Social and Character Development at Rutgers and the New Jersey Department of Education. In the 2014-2015 school year, Bedwell won its fourth Promising Practices award: The Art of Character Education, which highlighted how our character education initiatives were embedded in the related arts program at Bedwell.
Equally important to us is our support of the environment and green initiatives. Bedwell was was the recipient both the state and national 2013 Green Ribbon Awards for our environmental efforts. Fourth grade students are part of our Green Team and help others with recycling and other environmental projects. Students also participate in nurturing our school garden. The fresh vegetables that are grown in our beautiful garden frequently are part of Bedwell’s cafeteria’s menu.

Our school hours are 8:55-3:31. Car riding students can be dropped off in the back lot between 8:35-8:50 and will be dismissed there at 3:31.

More detailed information about Bedwell can be found in our Parent Handbook. This valuable document will answer almost any questions you might have about Bedwell. Please also be sure to sign up for our Friday Folder to get current information about all of the amazing things happening at our school!