Christ the King Principal Wants to Grow School and Community

Anne Hartman, the new principal at Christ the King Regional School, hopes to stay awhile.

"I want to stay at Christ the King for the rest of my career," she said.

Hartman joined the Catholic, regional pre-K through eighth-grade school in August. She was previously the assistant principal for academic and guidance services at Sacred Heart High School in Vineland. Hartman was also an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and Cumberland County College.

Enrollment at Christ the King is 281 students in grades 1-8, plus an on-site preschool serving 3- and 4-year-olds. With solid support from the parish, alumni, current parents and students, Hartman is excited to move the school forward through innovation and technology. She has high hopes of Christ the King gaining Blue Ribbon status, which recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels.

"We are looking into the requirements to apply for Blue Ribbon status and in my mind this is a real possibility," Hartman said. "Any good school is looking to improve itself. At Christ the King, we are always looking to prepare for what it will take to move into the future."

All teachers are being trained to use tools effectively including desktops, iPads and smart boards. The technological improvements will help broaden teaching strategies for students of all age groups.

Community service is embedded in every day life at Christ the King. On Martin Luther King Day, students had a half-day of school involving a prayer service plus an educational opportunity to help students understand the purpose and meaning of the day. Christian service, peacemakers and strong character are a few of the topics covered at the school. 

Upcoming service projects include a partnership with the UNICEF School in a Box program for Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 27-Feb. 2. 

King's Garden

"I am surrounded by farms and want the students to learn a variety of skills with our upcoming project, King's Garden," said Hartman, who commutes daily from Vineland.

With parental support, students will learn to plan, measure and build a garden box. Each grade level will have their own garden which will incorporate many academic areas such as math, science, chemistry and as part of their ongoing theme, the garden will be a service learning project as food harvested will be donated to those in need.

Hartman lives what she teaches. In her spare time, she is on the board of Spirit and Truth Ministries in Vineland which helps residents with a soup kitchen and other services. She is also on the board of the Levoy Theater in Millville and is a  Special Olympics swim coach.