Inside and outside the traditional classroom, our teachers and staff give CTSD students opportunities to thrive based on their abilities and interests. The enrichment offerings described below are in addition to the wide variety of school-wide assemblies and activities that help our students grow into kind, thoughtful, and informed citizens who help make the world better. 

Enrichment Programs

Our middle school students actively engage in various clubs and programs that enrich their educational experience. Whether participating in Art Enrichment, Student Council, or Camerata Singers, students have numerous opportunities to explore their interests and talents. Beyond sports, academic, and arts-related activities, offerings such as TREP$, Law Fair/Law Adventure, Artline, Non-Profit Fundraising, Sustainable Jersey’s Green Team, Robotics, Chess Club, CTMS Writers, and the daily news show provide enrichment opportunities that cater to diverse interests and passions.

View our Extracurriculars & Enrichment presentation

For more information about enrichment opportunities at CTMS, please contact Mrs. Schmidt at lschmidt@ctsdnj.org

Accelerated Math

CTMS also offers an accelerated math track for students ready to tackle more advanced concepts. The compacted math curriculum prepares students to succeed in a traditional algebra course in eighth grade.

8th Grade Capstone

The 8th Grade Capstone is a student-centered inquiry experience that empowers students to explore real-world issues that matter to them. Working collaboratively, students identify an issue of personal or community significance and investigate it from local, national, and global perspectives.

Throughout the process, students develop meaningful questions, conduct research, consider multiple perspectives, and use evidence to deepen their understanding. They then move from learning to action by developing thoughtful, realistic solutions and identifying ways to contribute to positive change in their communities.

The Capstone experience culminates in a community presentation night, where students share their learning journey, findings, and proposed actions with an authentic audience. Through presentations and conversations with community members, students demonstrate not only what they have learned but also how they can apply their knowledge, skills, and voices to make a meaningful difference.

Convergence Group Program

The Convergence Group Program at RVS offers weekly enrichment activities for qualifying students in grades 3-5. Eligibility for the program is based on assessments measuring nonverbal reasoning, academic achievement, and creative thinking. The program allows students to engage in various projects designed to enhance their critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity by applying their academic knowledge.

Convergence Group Program Qualifications 2026-2027

Students who show significantly higher performance than their grade-level peers in two of the four assessed areas (non-verbal reasoning, academic performance in math, academic performance in ELA, and creativity) will be invited to participate in the Convergence Group Program. The current qualifying levels for each of the assessments are shown below.

The assessment processes and qualification benchmarks are subject to change based on continued monitoring of students, state guidelines, and emerging research.

Qualification Process for 2026-2027

Rising Third Graders

In spring 2026, all second-grade students will take the Naglieri Non-verbal Assessment and iReady Math and Reading diagnostics. Students scoring in the qualifying range in any of the assessments will be invited to take the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. Based on their performance on these assessments, students will be selected for the Convergence Group Program at RVS.

Rising Fourth and Fifth Graders

• All students who qualified for the 2025-2026 Convergence Group Program will be invited to stay in the program in 2026-2027.

• Additionally, academic performance on the most recent i-Ready and NJSLA assessments will be reviewed. Students not previously identified for the program but now achieving scores in the highest percentiles in academics will be invited to complete the Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking.

• Parents and teachers who feel certain students may benefit from the program may also request further testing at this time.

New Students

Newly arrived students at RVS will be eligible for a testing process comparable to that of rising third graders once they have acclimated to the routines of their new school. This testing will generally occur around the time of the pre-scheduled i-Ready diagnostic assessments.

Appeal Process

While we seek to provide a fair and accurate process for selection for the Convergence Group Program, there may be extenuating circumstances that a student or parent may wish to bring to the attention of our team. In these cases, parents should provide an email to the school principal explaining why they believe the student should qualify for the program despite not meeting the qualifying scores in the assessments provided.

Math Workshop

Our math workshop model enables students excelling in specific math content areas to deepen their understanding. For each multi-day lesson, students are assessed to determine whether they have mastered the upcoming instructional standard. If students do well on this assessment, they may participate in advanced math sessions with our enrichment teacher, which will expand their knowledge and application of math concepts. These sessions take the place of the regular math lesson. Students move in and out of math workshops based on their mastery of the current math standard being taught.

Other Enrichment Opportunities

RVS also continues to offer many interest groups for students with a passion for music, such as The Golden Eagles Singer Troupe, and Band and Orchestra. Additionally, students participate in academic competitions such as Continental Math League and Word Masters and develop leadership skills through the Student Council, Green Team, and Food Advisory Council.

For more information about the RVS enrichment program, please contact Mrs. Desjajdon at jdesjadon@ctsdnj.org.

Academic Enrichment

Our enrichment teacher works closely with classroom teachers to support students who are ready for an extra challenge in Math and Language Arts. They help provide:

• Activities that go beyond standard grade-level lessons.

• Small-group sessions tailored to student needs.

• Flexible groups that change as students grow and succeed.

We use a variety of tools, including classroom assessments and teacher insights, to make sure every child receives the right level of support and challenge.

Specialized Enrichment & Leadership

Beyond the classroom, students can explore new interests and develop leadership skills. From our "Pawsome Pack Leaders" to our Green Team, children have the chance to solve real-world problems and contribute to our school community.

Enrichment for All

Students participate in one marking period of STEM enrichment per grade level in place of their regular library/media class. Our enrichment/technology teacher leads these sessions and focuses on hands-on projects that align with computer science, science, and mathematics grade-level standards.

We reevaluate our offerings annually based on school curriculum, program and staff availability, student interests, national or world events, and emerging research. If you have suggestions for adjustments or questions about our district-wide enrichment program, please contact Carl Blanchard in the Office of Curriculum at cblanchard@ctsdnj.org.