District Launches Unified Sports Program For All Athletes
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In December the District Director of Athletics, Rich Carroll, announced the launch of the Middletown Township Public Schools Unified Sports program.
The initiative will bring together people with and without disabilities, placing them on the same team, and in equal and meaningful roles on that team. The 2019-2020 Unified Sports program will include basketball and track and field offerings.
The Unified Basketball season will begin with a series of skills clinics from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
- January 8th (High School North)
- January 14th (High School South)
- January 22nd (High School North)
- January 28th (High School South)
Details about Unified Track and Field events will be provided at a later date.
To participate in upcoming Shore Conference basketball and track and field events athletes must have
a permission slip
signed by a parent or guardian, as well as an updated physical examination. Completed permission slips may be returned to our program coordinators:
Questions about the Middletown Township Public Schools Unified Sports program can be directed to Rich Carroll at
carrollr@middletownk12.org
.
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2020-21 Kindergarten Enrollment Opens Jan. 6th
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Kindergarten enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year will open Jan. 6th and close Feb. 28th.
Eligible students must be five (5) years of age on or before Oct. 1st, 2020.
Upon completion of the online enrollment process, parents will be prompted to schedule an appointment to meet with the District registrar.
For more information please follow the link below.
NOTE:
A Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 at 7 p.m. at High School North (Snow Date - Jan. 28, 2020).
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Hall of Fame Project Celebrates
High School North Greats
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Over the past four years High School North history teacher, Mr. Jonathan Scala, and several student volunteers have transformed the walls of the school's athletic wing into a Hall of Fame, celebrating the feats and achievements of the schools storied past to inspire current and future athletes.
According to an article published by the school's newspaper, the Lion's Roar, in 2016, Scala organized his Student Government volunteers to collect information and scan important photos about the school's athletic history, using the research and images to revamp the athletic hallway between the upper and lower gym. Team fundraising efforts helped pay for the installation of record boards and materials to mount and display athletic posters. What began as a uniformed Hall of Fame recognition area has since been expanded to include an “All Shore area,” recognizing all-conference selections from each of High School North's teams. There are now more than 800 8x10 posters framed and mounted.
“It was definitely a long and growing process, but rewarding at the same time. To see the positive reaction of our students, teachers, coaches, and alumni has been very gratifying,” Scala told the Lions Roar.
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BOE Reorganization
Video Available
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The Board of Education met on Jan. 2 at High School North for its annual reorganization meeting, and video of the meeting is now available by following the link to the right. During the meeting the
2020 Board of Education meeting dates
were adopted. To view previous Board of Education meeting videos please
visit the District website
.
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Leonardo Students Give Back
at Long Branch Soup Kitchen
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On Wednesday, Dec. 18th, fifth grade students from Leonardo Elementary School volunteered at “Meal at Noon,” a soup kitchen in Long Branch.
Students made sandwiches, prepared bagged lunches, handcrafted holiday cards, distributed Blessing Bags, assisted visitors with collecting available groceries, and distributed blankets, which were handmade by the school's Choose to be Nice club the week prior.
Students immersed themselves in the spirit of serving others in need by sharing smiles and welcoming all who visited Meal at Noon.
This community service opportunity is a product of the Choose to be Nice club members' enthusiasm to strengthen their home-school-community connection.
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Please join Middletown Friends of Diverse Learners on Tuesday, Jan. 14th from 7-9 p.m. in the High School South auditorium for a screening of award-winning Dan Habib documentary
Intelligent Lives
, which stars three pioneering young adults with intellectual disabilities who are challenging perceptions of intelligence. Please review the trailer below.
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Please join the High School North girls basketball and softball programs on Saturday, Jan. 25th, 2020 for their Slam Dunk Autism event, a day of games that will raise funds in support of special education programs.
To view a full list of your school's events please visit the calendar on your school's website.
Important Dates
- Jan. 22 - Board of Education Meeting (Initial Budget Presentation)
- Jan. 29 - Public Budget Meeting
- Feb. 5 - Public Budget Meeting
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Date Announced for Strategic Planning Forum 3B
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The overwhelming participation from District stakeholders in the development of our Strategic Plan created a need to extend the process by dividing the third public forum into two sessions.
Strategic Planning Public Forum 3A was held Dec. 11 at High School North and can be viewed in its entirety by watching the video to the right.
During its Jan. 2 reorganization meeting the Board of Education adopted Wednesday, Feb. 12 as the date of Public Forum 3B. A location is still to be determined.
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If you were unable to attend Forum 3A please review the materials below:
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District Donates More Than $12K
to Kortney Rose Foundation
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During the Dec. 18 Board of Education meeting, Kortney Rose Foundation Founder and Executive Director, Kristen Gilette, was presented with a check for $12,891, a combined total that was collected during a month-long district-wide fundraiser that launched in October and ended in November.
The District surpassed its mark of $10,312 from the previous year by approximately 25 percent in 2019. The fundraising efforts will directly benefit the pediatric brain tumor research conducted by the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
This District fundraising effort followed donations made earlier this year by the student government associations of High School North and South, which presented the Kortney Rose Foundation with donations that combined to total more than $3,000.
In 2006, Gillette lost her daughter Kortney to a brain tumor. In the ensuing months, she created the
Kortney Rose Foundation
, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer research. To date the group has raised more than $2.3 million, a total that includes fundraising contributions from Middletown Township Public Schools.
To learn more about the Kortney Rose Foundation, or to donate, please visit the
organization website
.
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Interested In Employment
Opportunities with the District?
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Throughout the year new employment opportunities arise for educators, paraprofessionals, and more.
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Girls Teams Honored For Fall Championships
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The Dec. 18 Board of Education meeting also served as a setting to recognize three championship winning girls athletics programs from High School South.
The girls Cross County, Field Hockey, and Soccer programs each secured top finishes during post-season competition, but it was the long-distance running team that was among the class of the Northeast Region.
After winning county, conference, sectional, and group championships, the Cross Country program earned an invitation to the Nike Northeast Regional meet in New York State, where the Eagles earned a top five finish and narrowly missed an invitation to Oregon for the Nike Cross National Championship meet. However, freshman star Reese Fahys did land an individual invite national meet and placed 64th among the nation's top high school runners.
The girls field hockey and soccer programs each capped successful 2019 campaigns with a North 2, Group III sectional state championships.
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Learn More About Substitute Teaching
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If you are interested in a flexible employment option that fits your lifestyle, a substitute teaching position may fit well with your lifestyle.
If you would like to learn please connect with Middletown Township Public Schools District Manager Deanna Scanlon at
dscanlon@ess.com
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Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger Visits Bayshore Middle School Archeologists
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Earlier this week Monmouth County Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger visited with Mrs. Eileen Toner and her sixth grade social studies class at Bayshore Middle School.
A former professional archaeologist, Scharfenberger shared his historical knowledge and a collection of interesting artifacts that helped bring the class' history lessons to life.
Prior to his election to the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Scharfenberger served on the Middletown Township Committee for 13 years, and acted as Mayor for six of those years.
While a professional archaeologist, Scharfenberger worked mainly in the Northeast and lectured throughout the United States, Canada, and England. He is currently an adjunct instructor of anthropology at Monmouth University.
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Parent Information Committee Video Available
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The District's Parent Information Committee met on Tuesday Dec. 10th and a full video of that meeting is now available for review by following the link to the right.
For more information about the Parent Information Committee, including upcoming meeting dates, please visit
www.middletownk12.org/PIC
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Community Members Honored at BOE Meeting
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During the Dec. 18th Board of Education meeting, the administrative team and Board of Education took time to recognize and thank three community members for their contributions to the District.
Marguerite Stocker was presented with a certificate recognizing her efforts that helped River Plaza Elementary School secure a $1 million Safe Routes New Jersey grant for impact barrier fencing, sidewalk, and roadway improvements along Hubbard Avenue, a main artery many students and families traverse to reach the school.
Raymond Veth and High School North teacher Mr. Jon Scala were also honored for their contributions to Middletown's 100 Years of Football celebration in October, an event that looked back at the teams and players of High School North, South, Mater Dei Prep, and more.
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Earlier this month filmmakers from High School North and South saw their works fascinating awards and screenings in the area and around the world.
High School North filmmaker Liam Finn earned the Audience Choice Award at the Krampus Film Festival in Asbury Park for his film
The Box
. Watch the short film in full by following the link to the right.
High School South filmmaker Keeley Giblin had her work,
Snip
, screened overseas in Ireland as part of the Fresh Film Fest, a competition in which students from across the country review various films and vote for their favorite. Giblin won first place.
In October,
Clown
, another Giblin production was screened in Times Square as part of the All American Film Fest.
To keep up with High School North film and tv student productions please follow
@MHSNfilmtv
on Twitter.
You can keep up to date with High School South film and tv student productions by following
@MHSSfilmtv
.
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Date Announced for Upcoming MCGDA Trade and Jobs Fair in Freehold
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The Monmouth County Guidance Directors Association is a professional non-profit organization composed of guidance directors from public and private schools across the county.
The organization invites students to its Trade and Jobs Fair on Feb. 27th from 6-8 p.m. at the Freehold Career Center to meet more than 50 representatives from trade schools, unions, employers, and the United States Military.
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District Welcomes Wreaths Across America To Thorne Middle School With $4,859 Donation
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On a snowy Dec. 11 morning, Thorne Middle School welcomed the tractor trailers, motorcycles, and star spangled vehicles of the Wreaths Across America caravan, which made a pit stop at the Port Monmouth school on its way to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The caravan carried with it 70,000 ornamental wreaths. Later this month, volunteers will place those wreaths at the headstones of military service members who have fought in died in American conflicts dating back to the Civil War.
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Prior to caravan’s arrival, the Thorne Middle School community launched a district-wide fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, which yielded a donation of $4,859.
Watch the full ceremony at Thorne Middle School in the video to the right, and read more about the event on
the District website
.
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District Partners With Rutgers On Innovative Paraprofessional Coaching Project
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The District has partnered with the Rutgers University Department of Psychology on a new program designed to enhance the methods by which paraprofessional classroom aides approach behavioral interventions for students with challenging behavioral disorders.
Over the course of a year, the Rutgers Paraprofessional Coaching Project will provide approximately eight collaborative coaching sessions that focus on training and empowering our paraprofessionals to implement evidence based behavioral interventions for students.
The project focuses on behavior support coaching to elementary school paraprofessionals (grades K-5) that work with 3 or more students in a classroom. The classroom teacher is also included in the coaching process and share back with districts all of the academic, social, and behavioral data that is collected for the participating students.
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High School North Recognizes
Freshman Making A Positive Impact
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High School North Principal Patricia Vari-Cartier, Ed. D., her administrative team, and faculty members recognize that continuing to develop the positive culture at the school will only further enhance the learning environment and the overall student-experience.
With that goal in mind, earlier this month High School North recognized a group of freshmen that demonstrated positive social and emotional behavioral traits during the first marking period.
Dr. Cartier extends her most sincere congratulations to this group, and expresses great pride in their ability to make a positive impact on the High School North community.
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2020-20201 High School Course Selection Guide
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Looking to get a jump on planning for next year's high school classes?
The administrative team has released the High School Course Selection Guide for the 2020-2021 school year.
To download and print the guide book, or to review a digital copy, please visit the High School & Middle School Course Offerings page on the
District website
.
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Mayor Tony Perry Visits District Students
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Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry visited High School South on Dec. 10 to speak with students enrolled in the District's Government, Law, and Public Policy pathway.
Thanks to the use of Google hangouts technology, Mayor Perry was also able to simultaneously address students at High School North.
After graduating Temple University, Perry joined the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Division of the Governor's Office, coordinating recovery efforts with FEMA, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Environmental Protection.
Perry later served as the Chief of Staff to former New Jersey Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, before serving on the Middletown Township Committee, and being selected as mayor for 2019.
Perry's appearance is one of several guest speaking events students enrolled in District pathways and academies are treated to.
For more information about the District's pathways, academies, and advanced placement courses, please visit
the District website
.
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Watch Pathways & Academies Night Sessions
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Hundreds of middle school students and parents from across the District attended Pathways, Academies, and Advanced Academic Opportunities Night at High School North on Dec. 4 to learn more about the focused educational offerings available at the high school level.
If you were unable to attend the event you can watch videos of each session at your convenience.
For more detailed information and to review a comprehensive slideshow presentation about the District's pathways, academies, and advanced placement courses, please visit
the District website
.
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Mental Health Staff Trains In Sand Play Therapy
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District mental health professionals were introduced to the basic tenets of Sand Play Therapy through a training facilitated by Toni Zachos Kaplan, LCSW of Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center.
Sand Play is an evidence-based and highly researched area of intervention for social skills, expressive techniques, and more.
Participants noted the specific potential of integrating sand play in their work, including: fostering connection between peers in social skills groups, engaging students who do not typically respond to highly verbal interventions and providing an effective method of expression to help students problem solve social situations.
This training was offered to members of the district’s Mental Health Board. The Mental Health Board, a newly introduced initiative composed of mental health professionals within the district, aims to provide professional development opportunities as well as district-wide education to further support social & emotional well-being of students.
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Middletown Township Green Team Partners With Second Chance Toys
With the holidays approaching the Middletown Township Green Team wants to remind community members about its partnership with Second Chance Toys, a non-profit organization that collects, cleans, and distributes gently used plastic toys to children in need. A donation drop off site is located at the Kanes Lane Recycling Center. To learn more about Second Chance Toys please
visit the organization's website
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District Honored at 2019 NJSBA Workshop
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Educators across the District are engaging students in personalized learning opportunities that build the skills necessary to one day flourish during college studies, a trade school education or in a rapidly evolving global work environment.
The District was recognized for this forward-thinking approach on Sept. 16th during a ceremony at the 2019 New Jersey School Boards Association Workshop in Atlantic City. Read more
at the District website.
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High School North Student Government
Announces Salute to Service Veterans Project
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The High School North Student Government has launched its Salute to Service Veterans Project, an effort to honor all community members that have served our country's military.
After the information gathering process is completed, the next stage of the project is to create a display honoring our soldiers that have been killed in action. The goal is to develop a design that can be replicated and showcased in each of our 17 District schools.
The group is seeking help to compile names and information about our active service members and veterans. Those wishing to share information can email Mr. Jonathan Scala at
scalaj@middletownk12.org
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A University Model in
Active Learning Classrooms
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The District has adapted the university "Active Learning Classroom" model from Rutgers University, and designed and implemented five new rooms in our middle schools and high schools. Research shows that active learning, when compared to individualistic learning, improves academic achievement, the quality of interpersonal interactions between peers, and a student's self-esteem. Learn more on the
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District Working to Develop
Global Citizenship Education
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District Supervisor of Social Studies and Technology, Wendy Morales, is emphasizing the concept of global citizenship education during the 2019-20 school year. As technology continues to transform higher education and workplace environments the importance of global competency for our students is rapidly increasing. To learn more about the District's global citizenship education efforts
please continue reading.
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