Let us Learn, Lead and Stand Together During Thee Difficult Times
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On June 3rd, Superintendent of Schools,
William O. George III, Ed. D., issued a statement on behalf of the Board of Education and administrative
team regarding the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota and ensuing response of our national and global communities.
"
Though school districts are not directly involved in law enforcement or criminal justice matters, it is the responsibility of our administrators, teachers and students to recognize injustices, eliminate biases and eradicate racism through the education of students and the professional development of personnel," said Dr. George.
"We as educators must enhance students’ global competencies and further develop their essential speaking and listening skills which lead to discussions that embrace multiple perspectives through a lens of empathy and understanding."
"A collective call to action is warranted, and serving as an ally to those in our community who have been most impacted by social injustices, especially our students, is paramount," added Dr. George."It is impossible to completely understand another individual’s experiences, feelings and perspectives, but it is our obligation to respect their voice and work collaboratively to peacefully eliminate racism, bias and harassment."
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MTPS Supports Voice of High School North Valedictorian
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The Middletown Township Public School District empowers its students to
use their voices to represent the change they want to see in the world. We support High School North valedictorian, Jada Tulloch, in using her
voice to share her perspective and speak out against racism.
Please review the community letter to the right from Superintendent of Schools, William O. George III, Ed. D.
Dr. George is also a member of the Monmouth County Superintendents' Round Table, which also issued a statement in support of student voice and choice during their educational journey. You can read that statement by
following the link.
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Top Students of 2020 High School Classes Speak to School Community in Graduation Interviews
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Follow the video link above to learn more about the educational journey of High School North Valedictorian Jada Tulloch and Salutatorian Jonathan Rasnitsyn.
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Follow the video link above to learn more about the educational journey of High School South Valedictorian Emily Granito.
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Participate in the NJDOE COVID-19 Parent Input Survey
on the Reopening of Schools & Virtual Home Instruction
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Please participate in the New Jersey Department of Education's COVID-19 Parent Survey. The NJDOE is seeking your feedback on the reopening of school buildings and virtual home instruction. To participate in the survey please
follow the link.
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Please Participate in the Imagine Learning Parent Input Survey for K-5 Students
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Please participate in the Middletown Township Public Schools parent survey on Imagine Learning for K-5 students. Your feedback is valued and appreciated. To participate in the survey please
follow the link.
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Interested in Learning More About the Virtual Advanced Placement Experience?
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Middletown Township Public Schools advanced placement students and teachers recently engaged in a round table discussion regarding their virtual experience with Advanced Placement course work and assessments. The group came together to help prepare future advanced placement students.
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District Presents Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives Draft; BOE Seeks Community Input
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During the May 27th Board of Education Workshop/Voting Meeting, a presentation was delivered to inform our school community about the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives, which were developed with public input expressed in a district survey and during seven public forums.
Watch the presentation by following the link to the right, and review the slideshow by
following this link.
The Strategic Planning Committee is seeking community input on the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives Draft through Wednesday, June 10. Community members should email their comments to
strategicplanning@middletownk12.org.
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The May 27th BOE Meeting
Video is Now Available
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The Board of Education held a virtual workshop/voting meeting on Wednesday, May 27th via the district's Zoom platform.
The full meeting is now available for review by click the video icon to the right.
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Board of Education Seeks Community Input on Superintendent Search Survey
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Middletown Township Public Schools' current superintendent, William O. George III, Ed. D., has announced his retirement effective September 1, 2020.
The Board of Education has begun its search for his successor. Selecting a leader for our district is one of the most important decisions the Board of Education can make.
In addition to this survey, you are welcome to submit your input in an email to
SuperintendentSearch@middletownk12.org
, or to share your thoughts with us at any Board of Education meeting. Thank you for your valuable input.
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District Updates Plans for High School Graduations
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On Wednesday May 27th, the NJDOE released new guidance related to high school graduations. After reviewing the guidance, the district has adjusted its 2020 high school graduation plans accordingly.
The guidance requires in-person graduation activities to commence no sooner than July 6th.
We have therefore cancelled the June photo sessions we had previously scheduled with our seniors. In its place, we will provide an enhanced opportunity for students, dressed in cap and gown, to be awarded their diploma at their high school.
Awarding of diplomas will be scheduled for the week of July 6. Students will be notified of their scheduled date and time, as well as specific safety and security procedures that will be in place. All state requirements related to social gatherings and social distancing will be strictly followed for the safety of our students, their families and our staff.
Our Virtual High School North and High School South Graduations for the Class of 2020 will be available on the district’s
YouTube channel
at 3:00 pm on June 18th 2020.
Each ceremony will include the traditional elements, including speeches from our students, principal, superintendent and Board of Education president as well as reading of graduates’ names with their photos. There will also be a special component which personalizes the experience for each student. We are encouraging our graduates, their family members and friends, staff and our entire community to “attend” these virtual graduation ceremonies on YouTube, and step out onto their porches, decks or lawns after the event to celebrate our graduates with a loud clap out.
*For those who cannot watch the virtual graduation ceremonies at 3 p.m. on June 18, they will remain on YouTube for you to watch at your convenience.
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High School North & South Artists Showcase Work in Virtual Galleries
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In-person art shows may not be an option this year, but High School North and South students are still showcasing their incredible work in online galleries.
The work of High School South students can be seen in their online Padlet gallery by
following this link.
The works of High School North's Fine Arts classes are available to review by
The works of High School North's Applied Arts & Design classes can
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Virtual Home Instruction Internet Technology Support
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During Virtual Home Instruction days the district internet technology team is available to answer your technical support questions. Please email
technology@middletownk12.org
with any questions or concerns.
For device repairs, technology team members are available on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
in the lobby of High School North from 8 a.m. to Noon
. For more information
please follow the link
.
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A New, Narrative Look for Elementary Students' Third Trimester Report Cards
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As we move to close the school year and report on student progress, it is important to recognize that our student’s final report card will include valuable feedback about their progress throughout the virtual learning process.
Assessment is the most consistent tool used to determine a student's mastery of grade level standards. The virtual environment posed many inconsistencies for schools across the country. The most unforeseen issue was the duration of this health crisis. Similar to the way we modified teaching and learning guidelines during virtual instruction, we will modify the final report card.
You will not see number grades on your child’s report card for the third trimester. Instead, you will see a narrative that depicts how your child progressed during virtual learning. Parents can conclude that the first two trimesters are solid indicators to predict how their child would have performed in the third trimester. As teachers and administrators reflected on grading and reporting, it was a collaborative and unanimous decision to move all reporting to a narrative format for the final trimester.
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High School South Students Launch Virtual Learning Help Desk for District Students
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Helping Hand is a group of High School South students that have launched a new website to answer questions from district students that may need assistance with their virtual learning assignments.
This student group is available to answer questions about "math, science or any topic," and is accepting submissions from both students and parents.
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Student Web Series Features
In-Depth Interview With Dr. George
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Since making the transition to virtual home instruction, High School North student Sophia
Haber Brock has continued her personalized learning journey by launching a weekly web series in which she interviews different members of the community.
She has already spoken to Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, as well Monmouth County Freeholder Susan M. Kiley, in addition to featuring classmates in a round table discussion regarding the social-emotional impact of the isolation that accompanies social distancing mandates.
This week Sophia sat down with Superintendent of Schools, William O. George III, Ed. D., to discuss a multitude of topics, including district graduations, revised grading policies
, quarantine, personalized learning, virtual learning, social emotional learning and his recently announced retirement.
Please click the image above to watch the full interview.
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Restructuring the Elementary School Experience to Align with State Mandates
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Recent mandates delivered by the New Jersey Department of Education and the State Board of Education aim to prepare students for future learning and employment in a globally-connected and technologically savvy community. These pieces of legislation require the Middletown Township Public School District to adjust the design of its educational programming accordingly.
designed to inspire students to pursue personalized learning opportunities that apply foundational skills to their innovative, creative, and critical thinking practices. The program’s structure promotes collaboration between students and their teachers, and encourages the showcase of their learning journey at district Innovation Fairs, SPARK Tanks, and Gifted and Talented Share Fairs.
The legislation stated that each school district will adhere to the reporting schedule connected to its New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continue Review, and will include in that report “the number of staff employed by the school district whose job responsibilities include identification of and providing services to gifted and talented students.” As such, the district will now staff two elementary Personalized Learning Teachers who will implement our G&T program.
These new standards and curriculum frameworks will be the foundation of the new elementary technology course taught by our Digital Literacy and Design Teachers. Our educators will design and implement grade-level appropriate lessons that help our students develop and build upon the necessary technology skills throughout their elementary education. Typing skills are a cornerstone of this foundational plan, which also addresses some of the feedback the district received during our Strategic Planning Public Forums, regarding consistent technology and typing instruction at the elementary level.
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MTPS Recognized for Developing Equitable Virtual Learning Plan
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The District was recently recognized by the Alliance for Excellent Education for the development and implementation of its virtual learning plan.
An excerpt from the article reads...
"Like many districts across the nation, Middletown Township transitioned its nearly 9,500 students to full-time remote learning in mid-March when it closed schools to slow the spread of the
novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
. In many ways, the suburban school district already had most of the necessary elements in place to support a successful transition, thanks in part to the
five-step planning process
district leaders undertook in working through the
seven gears
of the
Future Ready Framework
. The district had an existing one-to-one initiative that provides each student in third through twelfth grade with a personal device. Additionally, to implement that program successfully, the district enhanced its
infrastructure
, particularly the bandwidth available at its schools, and provided teachers and other school staff members with
personalized professional learning
to support student-centered instruction."
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Supporting our Students' Emotional Wellbeing
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The importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) for students has come to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our support staff, consisting of Social Behavior Support Specialists, Guidance Counselors, Student Assistance Counselors, and School Nurses, has risen to the challenge of maintaining and augmenting SEL in a virtual setting.
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The support staff has worked collaboratively to create combined Google Classrooms complete with social-emotional support, health updates and activities that offer meaningful messages of hope and perseverance. Schools have designated days to highlight the importance of students' social and emotional wellbeing through instruction on stress reduction techniques such as mindful breathing and yoga, as well as practices to promote positive self-image. Students continue to engage in character education activities through interactive lessons modified for virtual learning, and more than 1,900 students have signed the
Student Civic Pledge to Support Social Distancing
.
Supporting our students emotionally is a top priority for our district. Since transitioning to an online platform of learning, the support staff has established Google appointments that provide students an opportunity to participate in telecounseling/teletherapy sessions. Support staff members are also participating in Google Hangouts and regularly communicating with students to monitor their social and emotional wellbeing. If needed, mental health resources are offered through our partnership with the YMCA and CPC, as well as other local mental health organizations. YMCA counseling in all schools is continuing virtually as well as CPC counseling at the high schools. Additionally, student organization advisors and athletic coaches are providing students with opportunities to participate in virtual clubs and athletic activities that allow students time to connect with their peers and continue to pursue their interests.
Social-Emotional and Mental Health Resources
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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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