Earlier this week, Thompson and Thorne Middle Schools opened the district's spring theater season with fantastic stage shows for capacity audiences. Thompson's cast and crew delivered a stunning performance of the dark-comedy The Addams Family, while Thorne presented a pop of tropical color with a junior adaptation of the Disney hit Moana. On June 9 and 10 Bayshore Middle School will present a Disney favorite of their own in Frozen Jr.

Congratulations to the casts and crews for their wonderful performances. Be sure to head out to High School North and South next weekend (March 23-25) to see their respective spring musicals. High School North will perform Les Miserables and High School South will perform Chicago.

• Email to Purchase tickets to Les Miserables (March 24-25)
• Purchase tickets to Chicago (March 23-25)

Following its 3-2 Public B Finals victory over Chatham on March 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, the High School North hockey program was back on campus to be recognized by the Middletown Township Public Schools Board of Education and Administration.

Prior to the Board's March 14 Special Voting Meeting, the Lions players and coaches were honored for their state championship run, which included a 10-0 shutout of Montville, a 5-1 quarterfinals win over High School South, and a 2-1 semifinals triumph over Ramapo.

"It was a fantastic championship run, and I can remember back to Game 1 of the state playoffs, you could tell great things were coming down the line, and they most certainly did," said High School North Principal Kevin Cullen. "This is an amazing group of student-athletes; an amazing group of parents who raised them; these guys represent who we are and what we stand for in school and on the ice."

In the title game, the Lions received the game-winning goal from Chris Imbriale, his first of the season, with just over five minutes remaining in the third period. Lachlan Haegar opened the scoring for North early in the first period, before Joseph Wall tied the game at 2-2 in the waning minutes of the second period. Senior goaltender Luke Chrzan preserved the win by stopping 30 of 32 shots faced.

"Thank you to Board for recognizing a team that had the best season in High School North hockey history," said Lions Head Coach Don Wood. "In 2015 we won our first state title, but this one was a lot sweeter, especially after making it to the finals last year and not coming away with the win. We couldn't be more proud to have this group of guys representing the school, the program and our community."

High School North finished the season with an overall record of 16-6-4.

This space is dedicated to the promotion of mental health resources in our schools and local community. Please refer to the district site for a comprehensive list of resources: Mental Health & Community Resources

Are you seeking resources for your child or a family member? Monmouth County publishes annual Reference Guides detailing contact information for a variety of resources throughout the County & State.  Linked are the 2022-2023 Guides: 

• Children & Youth Behavioral Health Resource Guide
• Behavioral Health Resource Guide (Adult)

Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant known as π (pronounced pie). Pi Day is observed by mathematics students and staff members on March 14. The numerical representation of that date is the first three significant numbers in of π (3.14).

The number π is a ratio that compares the circumference of a circle to the circle's diameter. What makes π a constant is that, regardless of the size of the circle, this ratio will always remain approximately equal to 3.14.

Pi Day has been celebrated since 1988, when the event was founded by Larry Shaw, an American physicist who was fascinated by the origins of mathematical constants like π. The Greek mathematician Archimedes is credited with discovering π, but there is evidence of ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Babylonians having at least a rudimentary understanding of the ratio.

Pi Day is a fun way for MTPS staff to design lessons that foster a deeper understanding of concepts like the circumference, diameter and radius of circles. Mathematics lessons on Pi Day are often accompanied by the consumption of pies, pizza and other circular treats, and/or recitation contests of the infinite digits of π beyond 3.14.

Check out some of the best photos from Pi Day celebrations around the district below.

Each month, December through February, student-athletes representing high school hockey conferences throughout the state are selected as The New Jersey Devils High School Hockey Players of the Month. High School North's senior goaltender, Luke Chrzan, was named the Shore Conference Player of the Month for February, after helping to lead the Lions to the NJSIAA Public B Championship. Chrzan earned the nomination after a stellar month of February in the crease, including a championship run in which he posted a .960 save-percentage and a goals-against average of 1.00 through four state tournament victories.

Players are recognized through nominations received from members of the media who cover the state’s scholastic hockey programs. Honorees and their guests receive tickets to a Devils home game and a certificate presented by a Devils player.

Congratulations to Luke on a wonderful month, and an incredible season.

On Friday, March 17 students and staff across the Middletown Township Public School District were clad in green and clovers to recognize St. Patrick's Day, a celebration of Irish heritage and culture. The annual Irish feast day offers an opportunity for students to participate in themed lessons. These lessons can help students develop a deeper understandings of Irish literature published by the likes of James Joyce, Mary Lavin, and William Butler Yeats, as well as the themes at the heart of traditional Irish folk-music, and historical perspectives of Irish citizens.

Though observed in the United States with Irish cuisine and festivities, St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland. Celebrations typically include community parades and festivals, but in regions around the world, the holiday can be celebrated with formal banquets and dances.

Additionally, a strong effort in the Republic of Ireland has developed around the March 17 holiday to preserve traditional Irish language. Each year, leading up to St. Patrick's Day, Irish citizens participate in Seachtain na Gaeilge, which translates to "Irish Language Week."