For the first time since scholastic ice hockey was established in Middletown, High School North and South will meet in the state tournament following their respective opening round victories.

After falling behind by a goal in the opening period of the Feb. 23 meeting with Mahwah, a pair of second period goals by Lucas Campos and Justin Ferlanti made a 2-1 winner out of the Eagles. Zander Barquero stopped 12 of 13 shots in the win.

The Lions margin of victory was much wider with a 10-0 triumph over Montville. Andrew Gross led the way for High School North with four goals, while Thomas Baron, Jimmy Mullarney and Joseph Wall each scored twice. Luke Chrzan registered the shutout by stopping all 10 shots faced.

The second-seeded Lions will host the seventh-seeded Eagles on Monday, Feb. 27 at the Middletown Sports Complex. The puck will drop at 6 p.m.

Earlier this week, New Monmouth Elementary School students in Mrs. Jane Sieg's fifth grad class completed an informational program to spread awareness about how to steer clear of drug use and prevent acts of violence in their local community.

Presented by Middletown Township Police Department Community Relations Officer, Detective Rick Cruz, students received crucial information in a series of presentations and participated in valuable conversation with their peers.

Thank you to Detective Cruz and the Middletown Township Police Department for providing such a positive impact and an informative program for our school community.

On Thursday, Feb. 23 the Shore Conference of Middle Schools descended on High School North for the Second Annual Cheerleading Championships.

The showcase featured teams from Hazlet, Long Branch, Neptune and Ocean Township, in addition to our MTPS squads from Thorne, Bayshore and Thompson, who delivered fantastic performances.

When the scores were tallied, it was Thorne that secured its second consecutive conference crown, while Hazlet took second, and Bayshore placed third.

"I am so proud of this team for taking first place," said Thorne coach Mrs. Lori Ward. "They are all such talented and hardworking kids. I am so lucky to be their coach. I also need to congratulate all of the competitors. Every single team was great."

"The competition was full of energy and excitement," said Thorne Principal Mrs. Shannon Smith. "Cheerleading requires not only physical skills, but also a lot of passion and enthusiasm, which these athletes demonstrated. Congratulations to all of the teams, and especially our three Middletown teams."

Congratulations to all of our teams on their incredible efforts.

Though frigid temperatures have not resulted in much snowfall this winter, that didn't stop students in Mr. Tim St. Clair's AP Chemistry class from using snowballs to learn about the chemical equilibrium between reactants and products. The formation of paper snowballs and the ensuing exchange served as a scientific model to understand the challenging, but fundamental, concept of dynamic equilibrium. While students may be able to solve numeric problems related to chemical equilibrium through the memorization of mathematical formulas, that method does not necessarily equate to conceptual understanding. Through engaging activities like a paper snowball fight, students are able to demonstrate the concept with their peers, and use that demonstration to gain a deeper understanding of their problem solving techniques.

Earlier this week, Leonardo Elementary School students in Mr. Brandon Gress' class ate King Bread (a sweet dessert bread), wore traditional beads and designed miniature parade floats to recognize the celebration of Mardi Gras.

Students learned about the history of Mardi Gras, which predates the annual proceedings in New Orleans. Mardi Gras' roots are in medieval Europe. In the 17th and 18th centuries parades would pass through Rome and Venice ahead of great feasts right before the Lenten season.

It was in these Italian cities where members of a French dynasty known as the House of Bourbon had established footholds, and participated in the celebration. Their participation helped spread the concept of Mardi Gras further across Europe and into the heart of France.

On March 2, 1699, the French explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville made port in Louisiana just south of a plot of land on the Mississippi River he would name New Orleans in 1718. By 1730, Mardi Gras was an established annual celebration in the city, featuring processions of horse-drawn carriages, passengers with elaborate masks and beaded costumes, and grand feasts.

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

Does your teen use social media? Chances are they do. Social media use has become a very common experience for most teenagers today. Do you ever wonder about the impact of social media use on your teen’s mental and emotional health?  Common Sense Media has established four practical tips for parents and caregivers to engage with their teens about how they are using social media, and how it might effect them. Learn more by following the link below.

• How to Help Teens Manage the Impact of Social Media on Their Mental Health