During the Jan. 5 Board of Education Reorganization meeting, Leonora Caminiti, Joseph Fitzgerald and Gary Tulp took the oath of office, formalizing their general election victories in November.

This year will mark Mrs. Caminiti's 19th year of service as a Board of Education member, while Mr. Tulp and Mr. Fitzgerald will sit on the dais for the first time.

Mr. Tulp is an attorney by trade, who represents large organizations in high-stakes litigation, and manages sizable operating budgets. Mr. Fitzgerald is a United States Marine veteran and an entrepreneur, who founded and manages several technology-based organizations. Both have elementary-aged children attending school in the district. Mrs. Caminiti has served as a real estate agent in Monmouth County for nearly three decades, and has helped implement a multitude of successful programs for the district during her time on the Board, including our full-day kindergarten program.

During the meeting, the Board voted for Frank Capone and Jacqueline Tobacco to retain their positions as president and vice president, respectively.

"My highest priority this year is to continue to be the pioneering board for board of educations across the state," said Mr. Capone. "We will ensure that we continue to deliver the quality, Middletown-approved education for all of our children. We will remain an advocate for all of all children, parents, and tax payers, and we will continue to fight for the aid that we deserve to educate our children equally. We have great things on the horizon for 2023. I am humbled and honored to lead one of the largest and greatest school districts in the state of New Jersey, and will always put our children first."

The High School South wrestling program was busy over the holiday break with two individual competitors securing championship victories, and others notching notable finishes in two different tournaments.

At the annual Mustang Zoo meet, Eagles junior Ella Hansen and sophomore Thea Rowland earned first place finishes in their respective divisions.

On the campus of Farleigh Dickinson University, at the Sam Calli Battle for the Belt, High School South senior Jack Zaleski was a finalist, while seniors Thomas Whyte and David Hussey placed fourth and sixth, resepctively.

Congratulations to the Eagles on their accomplishments!

After capturing the spring season championship in June, Bayshore Middle School's Esports team is back on top, securing the program's second straight state championship belt.

On Dec. 17, middle and high school scholastic Esports teams from across the state gathered on the campus of Rider University to compete for their respective championship belts beefore nearly 900 spectators. It was the largest in-person viewing audience for a Garden State Esports Championship event since the league began hosting live competitions in 2019.

In the semifinal round, Bayshore defeated the Hoboken Battle Bots 2-0. They moved on to a meeting with the Iselin Panthers in the finals and registered a 3-0 victory to win the title.

Bayshore's championship team members are:

• Kaiden Leak, Grade 7
• Nicholas Brier, Grade 8
• David Borbely, Grade 8
• Jace Leak, Grade 8
• Austin McKnight, Grade 8

Bayshore joined teams from Northern Valley High School, Old Tappan High School, Manchester Regional High School, High Tech High School, and Burnet Middle School on the winner's podium.

Congratulations to Bayshore on its incredible fall season, and best of luck in the winter!

Earlier this week, New Monmouth Elementary School fourth grade students in Mrs. Brittany Horton's class delivered breaking news to their peers.

As part of a natural sciences lesson about the overwhelming power of nature and the destruction it can cause, students were asked to conduct research on volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis and hurricanes, and present their findings to peers in the form of a breaking news report.

Together, the students of Room 212 formed the News212 Team, reporting on behalf of the more recognizable News12 Network. This activity exemplifies the authentic learning opportunities MTPS educators are committed to providing our students. Rather than tasking students to deliver individual oral or written reports on their subjects, this lesson promoted peer collaboration and the practical application of research and discovery in a professional scenario.

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

What is a mood?  Can you change it? This article from Nemours Teen Health offers some basic information for teens and their families on what a mood is and how to use your mood to set yourself up for success. Some helpful tips to start  include things like identifying your mood and accepting how you feel.  For more information, check out the whole article linked below. 

• Choosing Your Mood (for Teens)

On Wednesday, Dec. 21, students, staff and members of the Ocean Avenue Elementary School community gathered outside of the school for a very special dismissal.

When Aaliyah Kane (kindergarten) and her older brother Souleymane (third grade) exited their school, the siblings raced into the open arms of their mother.

What they didn't expect to find was their father, an active United States Military serviceman, waiting to greet them.

Mr. Kane serves as a member of the Army, and is stationed in Germany. Wednesday was the first time he had seen Aaliyah and Souleymane in two years.

The Middletown Township Public School District is grateful for Mr. Kane's service, and would like to extend the warmest welcome home on behalf of our entire school community.

Watch the Kane family reunite by following the link video to the right.