The High School South girls wrestling program entered the Shore Conference Tournament with just three competitors, which is nine-short of a full 12-person squad. That didn't stop the Eagles from soaring to sixth place in the final team standings out of 44 programs. The Eagles' impressive finish was the byproduct of an individual championship victory by sophomore Thea Rowland, a second place effort by sophomore Caitlin O'Reilly, and a third place showing by junior Ella Hansen. Congratulations to these talented grapplers on their fantastic performances.

Last weekend, the High School North girls basketball program joined teams from around the Shore Conference and across the state of New Jersey in the Score for the Cure showcase, an annual fundraising event to support breast cancer awareness. Lions sophomore Emily McCarthy scored five points in High School North's showcase game with the Marlboro Mustangs. McCarthy earned the team's MVP award for her efforts.

During the fall, a group of Harmony Elementary School students submitted artwork to the WorkPlacePro (WWP) Autism Awareness t-shirt design contest. Participating in the contest served as a way to learn more about the developmental disability, as well as practically apply their knowledge in a creative fashion that could help inform their community.

Earlier this month, a nationally circulated email by WPP featured the design of Zoey Kiena, a third grade student in Mrs. Jessica Winters’ class. Zoey’s design depicts the famous Autism puzzle pieces on a swing, and is accompanied by the message "Autism isn't a setback, it is a push forward." Her creative use of the puzzle piece symbol truly set her apart from the thousands of entries received by the company.

Each year WPP asks students to submit artwork that could be depicted on their annual shirt that is sold throughout the country. The company accepts submissions through the fall and selects one winner. Despite not being selected as the finalist, Zoey and her classmates were extremely proud to be showcased in the email from WPP. Moving forward, Zoey plans to try and submit a design each year, and hopes her work will inspire other MTPS students to do the same.

Earlier this week, Thorne Middle School students with special needs received a visit from Frank Latham, the Youth Leadership Coordinator for The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. Latham is a self-advocacy expert who works with students across the state to develop essential skills that will help them transition from school life to adult living.

Self-advocacy describes the ability of an individual to take an active role in decision-making processes regarding educational modifications and accommodations, as well as the reception of supports and services outside of the classroom and occupational pathways.

Self-advocacy is promoted through helping students to:

• Develop self-awareness through skills assessment
• Making skill-development a priority
• Providing flexible classroom options and community-based learning opportunities focused on life skill-development

For additional information about self-advocacy and services and additional supports for students with special needs, please visit www.MonmouthResourceNet.org.

Bayview Elementary School hosted its annual Exploration Fair on Thursday, Jan. 19, in which approximately 70 participating students investigated a variety of topics in an effort to spark their interest in a topic and enter a path toward lifelong learning. Third, fourth and fifth grade students were provided an opportunity to conduct research, ask questions, exchange ideas with peers and ignite passions they may not have known they had. Some of the topics included athletics, geology, zoology, STEM-related subjects, astrology and the study of our solar system, designing with origami, story-structure through Greek mythology, and so much more!

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

Do stress and anxiety seem to be more prevalent these days? Many people report these feelings on a regular basis. Can they be adaptive? Psychologist, Lisa Damour, PhD, believes that the brain science behind stress and anxiety can be explained, and teens can learn to use these experiences to their advantage. Read the full article: Why Stress and Anxiety in Teens Can Be Healthy .

Community members interested in learning about the registration process for the Middletown Township Public Schools' Kindergarten Program are invited to the MTPS Kindergarten Registration Information Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. via the District Zoom platform.

• Join the Information Meeting or follow the link to join: https://bit.ly/3IKiRMz
• Meeting Passcode: ck31Yv
• Dial Into the Meeting: +1 (309) 205-3325
• Dial-in Passcode: 656202