District Launches Course Selection Website for Middle & High School Students
On Thursday, Dec. 17, the District hosted more than 300 eighth grade families for its virtual 8th Grade Open House and Pathways & Academy Night. This informational session for incoming students of High School North and South served as an introduction to the course selection process.

On Friday, Dec. 18 the District launched its new MTPS Course Selection Website, a user-friendly and interactive platform dedicated to providing middle school and high school students with information, resources and supports for their future course selection process.

The MTPS Course Selection Website includes course descriptions, informational videos and slideshow presentations, important documents and applications, and additional content pertinent to student experience.

Please visit the MTPS Course Selection Website today.
MTPS Teams with Monmouth University for Action Civics Partnership Project
The Action Civics Partnership Project (ACPP) is a partnership between Monmouth University and Middletown Township Public School’s Civic Leadership program. This project is a collaboration between seven Monmouth University pre-service teachers and the district’s Middletown Township 12th grade Civic Leadership teachers, Mrs. Jennifer Smith (HSN) and Mr. Bob Lightbody (HSS). High School South’s Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Christine Nagy, will also be facilitating this project.

Each year from January through May, Civic Leadership students engage in action civics projects of their choice. The ACPP will give district students the opportunity to be mentored by pre-service teachers who have just completed a social studies methods course focused on action civics implementation. District students will receive personalized feedback from their mentors in an online asynchronous format (e.g. Google Docs, FlipGrid videos, etc.) as they work through the stages of their project. Pre-service and in-service teachers will also collaborate on lesson planning and educational content creation. Middletown educators and Monmouth’s pre-service teachers met for the first time via Google Meet on December 15th to discuss the launch of this project in the new year. 

This project is made possible through a Monmouth University grant awarded to Dr. Wendy Morales, MTPS Director of Social Studies and Technology, Dr. Jason Fitzgerald, Assistant Professor at Monmouth University, and Dr. William George, Director of Educational Leadership & Ed.D Program at Monmouth University.
District Technology Curriculum Team Introduces New Typing Pal Program
The MTPS Technology Curriculum Department is excited to share that the district has implemented the keyboarding program Typing Pal. While this program was officially adopted for our new K-5 Digital Literacy and Design special area class, which begins in the new year, the district was able to activate subscriptions now for all our K-12 students at no additional cost. 

Research has shown that strong typing skills are an essential part of literacy. According to Typing Pal:

“A good typing method not only enables faster writing, it also frees up the brain’s resources for the complex mental processes that writing requires (Johansson et al., 2009). Regular practice and good typing skills therefore allow students to write better (Wideman and Owston, 2000). Furthermore, their typed texts are of a higher quality than those written by hand (Crook, 2007). Researchers recommend that students learn the correct technique as early as possible (Wichter et al., 1997), preferably through frequent 15-minute sessions over the course of more than one school year (Losier, 2002).”

The elementary Digital Literacy and Design teachers and secondary Educational Technology Specialists have begun to create accounts for students in each school. To access Typing Pal, students will be provided with their school’s unique web address. They will then be prompted to sign in with their Google accounts and will select either their homeroom teacher or English/Language Arts teacher, depending on their grade. Login directions can be found in your child’s Google Classroom.

While typing skills will be included in every unit of the new K-5 Digital Literacy and Design special, students may also access the program at any time for additional practice. Secondary students may have additional opportunities for typing practice in 6th Grade Skills for Success class, middle or high school Advisory, or middle and high school English Language Arts classes.

Please direct any questions related to Typing Pal to your student's Digital Literacy and Design elementary teacher, or your building Educational Technology Specialist at the secondary level.
Child Development Students Inspired by First Snow Fall of the Season
The first snowfall of the season served as an inspiration for the students of Mrs. Tully's Child Development class.

On Thursday, Dec. 17, the inclement weather and treacherous travel conditions kept students at home to participate in their course work virtually.

Child Development students were assigned a lesson to go outdoors and develop a snowy design. Upon their return indoors, students showed off their creations and engaged in discussion about how playing in the snow can promote physical, social-emotional and cognitive development in a child.

The Child Development course is for Grade 11-12 students. The course helps students gaining a deeper understanding of how young children grow, develop and learn. Students develop career readiness skills by working collaboratively in groups to complete projects, write and teach hands-on lessons, and interpret educational theories into real life experiences. For additional information about Child Development, please visit the MTPS Course Selection Website.
Painting Lesson Inspires Thompson Middle School Diversity Club
Earlier this week, student members of the Thompson Middle School Diversity Club participated in a painting lesson led by Thompson art teacher Lisa Montibello. This activity inspired some incredibly moving works of art that you can view in the attached video montage.
Watch the Dec. 16th Board of Education Workshop/Voting Meeting
NJSIAA Releases Anticipated Spring Season Update for Student-Athletes
On Friday, Dec. 11th the. New Jersey Interscholastic Athletics Association (NJSIAA) announced important dates for the upcoming spring sports season.

The update to the NJSIAA's Return to Play plan includes staggered practice, competition and state tournament start dates for the majority of spring sports. State tournament start dates for boys tennis and golf are still to be announced.

"Minimizing overlap and avoiding direct conflicts between sports has always been a top priority,” said Dave Frazier, chair of the NJSIAA Sports Advisory Task Force. “After the loss of the spring 2020 season, we want to ensure every student-athlete has the opportunity to participate in each sport they would have during a normal year.”

The NJSIAA is expected to release additional information regarding the 2021 spring season on Feb. 15th.

For more details on Friday's spring season announcement please visit the NJSIAA's official website.
Harmony Remains #LucaStrong
with new Planting & Monument
Harmony Principal Erik Paulson, Middletown Police Chief Craig Weber, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry and the parents of Luca Iacono stand outside Harmony Elementary School where a new planting and monument to Luca have been set.
Last year the Harmony Elementary School community lost a beloved member of its family in Luca Iacono.

During a recent private ceremony in front of the school building, Luca's parents were joined by Harmony Principal Erik Paulson, Middletown Township Police Chief Craig Weber and Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry for the planting of a dogwood tree and the placement of a monument in remembrance of Luca.

The planting and the monument were set near bench that was previously placed in loving memory of Luca.

Harmony Elementary School and the entire Middletown Township Public School District extend its gratitude to the Township Committee for the donation of the dogwood tree, and Uras Monuments for the donation of the foot stone.

We will always remain #LucaStrong.
New Monmouth Elementary School Students Celebrate Their Communities
Earlier this week, New Monmouth Elementary School students in Mrs. Mary Ellen DellaValle's class showcased presentations that celebrated the unique features and histories of their community.

Studying one's community allows students to gain a better understanding of how their neighborhood and municipality developed into the township we call home.

Additionally, understanding the history of their community offers students perspective on the achievements we celebrate, and the challenges we face today.

A greater knowledge of their community serves as an introduction to the District's emphasis on Global Citizenship Education, and allows students to draw connections between their home town and the world at-large.

Keep up the great work!
Thompson Storytellers Offer
Listeners a Mystery in New Podcast
A new podcast from Thompson Middle School storytellers, Ava and Dani, offers listeners a new short mystery to unravel.

The latest episode of Mysteries From the Middle is titled "Lost Hope.

To investigate this tangled yarn simply visit Mysteries From the Middle - Lost Hope on Apple Podcasts.
Melissa Joan Hart Sends
Holiday Wishes to MTPS Students
The star of beloved Nickeldoeon show Clarissa Explains it All and ABC staple Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Melissa Joan Hart, recently dropped a line MTPS Television and Film students to share acting and directing tips, as well as holiday wishes.

Follow the video link to hear more from Hart.
High School South TV/Film Students Launch "Eye on Alumni" Series
High School South film and television club has launched a new web series titled "Eye on Alumni."

The interview style talk show is hosted by Maura Collins and focuses on notable alumni from High School South.

Episode one features screenwriter Brian Lynch, who is known for such films as Puss in Boots, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and more.
Thompson Teacher Bill Durr Featured in The Journal
Thompson Middle School Teacher Bill Durr.
Earlier this week, The Journal Publications featured Thompson Middle School teacher Bill Durr in a front-page story.

The article, "Thompson Middle School Teacher Opens up About Childhood, Career Path," discusses Durr's path as a student through the Middletown Township Public School system, before earning his degree from Curry College, and landing back in his home district to work with the next generation of Middletown students.

“I was fortunate early in my life that I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” he said. “It really hit me sophomore year of college when I said, ‘I want to help people. I want to work with kids.’ People have said I have the patience of a saint. I knew I could make a difference.”
Rosenbloom Named New South Hockey Coach; NJSIAA Announces Start Date for Hockey Season
Middletown Township Public Schools Athletic Director, Rich Carrol, recently announced that longtime High School South assistant, Andrew Rosenbloom, was approved by the Board of Education as the news Eagles Head Coach.

Rosenbloom is an alum of the Eagles hockey program and a mathematics teacher at High School South.

Rosenbloom will step into the role following the six-year tenure of High School South history teacher and Government, Law and Public Policy Pathway Moderator, Tony Nemati, who helped lead the Eagles to a record of 91-41-12 during that period.

The high school hockey season was scheduled to begin later this month, but had its start date pushed back following a Nov. 30th executive order by Governor Murphy that paused all indoor athletics until January.

On Dec. 4th the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) issued a revised start date to the high school hockey season.
  • Indoor Practices begin - Jan. 3
  • Games begin - Jan. 15
  • Season concludes - March 16

All other NJSIAA sanctioned winter athletic seasons were scheduled to begin in January or later, and did not have their start dates altered by the Nov. 30 executive order.

For additional information regarding the high school hockey season please review the NJSIAA's official press release on the upcoming hockey season.
Thorne Student Artists Inspired
by Thanksgiving Day Parade
Earlier this week, inspired by a balloon design in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the students of Mrs. Kristyn Corace's Thorne Middle School class learned about the art form of Pointillism, and the modern Pointillist artist Yayoi Kusama.

Kusama's work, titled Love Flies up to the Sky, was one of the incredible balloons was featured in this year's parade, and the focal point of Mrs. Corace's art lesson this week.

Her student artists showed off their inspired designs in the photo above, and you can learn more about Kusama's work in the video below.
YMCA Academy Space & Child Care Subsidy Available for Expanded Care
The New Jersey School-Age Tuition Assistance Program can help you pay for care for your school-age child in need of child care as a result of COVID-19 remote learning schools schedules. To be eligible for this assistance, you must be:
a NJ resident; your child must be attending school remotely, either part-time or full-time; and
your annual gross household income must be $150,000 or less.

As part of this initiative, the state will pay your licensed or registered child care provider through December 30, 2020 for child care during the school day.

To apply for this visit https://www.childcarenj.gov/covid19 And for more information about YMCA before and aftercare, or to request a registration packet, email a[email protected].
Strategic Planning: Milone and Macbroom Present Capacity Analysis
During the Nov. 18 Board of Education Workshop/Voting Meeting, Rebecca Augur and Mike Zuba of Milone and Macbroom delivered a presentation regarding a capacity analysis of Middletown Township Public Schools.

For additional information, please review the Milone and Macbroom slideshow presentation.
MTPS Accepting Applications for Substitute & Leave Replacement Teachers
The Middletown Township Public School District is now accepting applications for Substitute and Anticipated Leave Replacement Teachers for all Pre-K to 12 positions. To apply, please visit middletownk12.org/employment and follow the prompts for Contracted and Substitute openings.
The Middletown Township Public School District requires that a daily health screening form must be completed each day before your student(s) enters the building. Please visit the home page of your school's website to access your school's unique screening form, or follow the links below.