May 8-12 marked Teacher Appreciation Week, a national celebration of educators that recognizes their tireless efforts and dedication to serving our students. Throughout the week, students and families acknowledged our Middletown Township Public School teachers by writing thank you cards, personalized letters, and poems expressing their gratitude, as well decorating their desks with floral arrangements and other tokens of appreciation.

"Teachers are selfless, dedicated, and caring individuals who devote themselves to the academic progress and well-being of our students," said Superintendent of Schools, Mary Ellen Walker. "This week, Teacher Appreciation Week, the Middletown school community honored our educators. We extend our deep appreciation, respect, and support for all you do every day to provide students with the tools to succeed and the encouragement and inspiration to become life-long learners.  

"In reality," Mrs. Walker continued, "a teacher is one of the most important people in our children's lives.  You are not only educators but mentors, role models, and nurturers whose impact goes far beyond the boundaries of a classroom. In our uncertain world, it is more necessary than ever to acknowledge your contributions and say thank you."

The origins of Teacher Appreciation Week date back to 1953, when the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt influenced the United States Congress to set aside a day to recognize our nation's educators. In 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) advanced the initiative by establishing a full week in which we are able to express our gratitude to teachers for inspiring students to become lifelong learners.

Though we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week each May, let us never forget vital role teachers play each day in shaping the lives of our students and the future of our community. Thank you to all of our MTPS educators.

The Middletown Township Public School District celebrated National School Nurse Day on Wednesday, May 10, as students, families and staff extended their gratitude to the medical professionals overseeing the wellbeing of our school community.

"To our Middletown Township School District Nurses, we would like to take this time to recognize you and your hard work," said MTPS Board of Education President Frank Capone. "Having you as part of our incredible staff is what makes Middletown Township Public Schools the best in the state. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being amazing nurses. The Middletown staff and students appreciate you."

National School Nurses Day is recognized in the middle of National Nurses Week, and is meant to acknowledge the critical role that school nurses play in promoting the health and well-being of students. School nurses are responsible for assessing and addressing the healthcare needs of students, administering medications, providing first aid and emergency care, promoting healthy habits, and educating students and families about health-related topics.

The history of National School Nurse Day dates back to 1972, when the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) created the event to recognize the contributions of school nurses and to raise awareness of their role in education. Since then, National School Nurse Day has become an important day to celebrate and acknowledge the work of school nurses across the United States.

This year, our school community celebrated our nursing staff in a variety of ways, including the delivery of handwritten thank you letters and poems, and the placement of flowers and tokens of appreciation around their desks.

Thank you to all of our nurses for the vital role they play in caring for our students and staff, and creating a safe educational environment.

National Arbor Day is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep and preservation of trees. This environmental effort aligns with Bayview Elementary School's vision for a cleaner, greener educational environment, and served as a catalyst for a school-wide creative writing campaign.

Among other planting activities around campus, Bayview Elementary School students recognized the holiday by cultivating their own Poet-Tree. April is also Poetry Month at Bayview, which allowed for the student-directed merger of these two concepts.

"For the entire month of April, students worked on writing poems. Some were inspired by nature and Arbor Day, while others were inspired by personal experiences and emotions," said Bayview Principal Tara Raspanti. "On Arbor Day, all of the poems were displayed to be read as leaves on our Poet-Tree. It was a wonderful job by all the staff and students at Bayview Elementary!"

The history of Arbor Day can be traced back to the efforts of J. Sterling Morton, a journalist and politician who relocated from Michigan to Nebraska in the mid-19th century. Morton was an enthusiastic promoter of agriculture, and he believed that the Great Plains region of the United States needed more trees in order to thrive. Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday to the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture in 1872, and the first Arbor Day was held in Nebraska on April 10 of that year. Over one million trees were planted on that day alone.

Thank you to the Bayview Elementary School community for being such inspirational stewards of environmental activities and poetic expression.

Earlier this week, Thorne Middle School students in Mrs. Jackie Fitzpatrick's sixth grade English Language Arts class celebrated the end of their poetry writing unit with a publishing party that placed their work on full display for peers and staff. The poetry showcase, which lined the Thorne media center with prose, was titled "Poetry on Purpose." The display offered students an opportunity to show off the skills they developed, and even provide live readings of select works for a captive audience. Some readings even included musical accompaniment by members of the Lions band. This type of student-led showcase demonstrates our district's commitment to authentic learning opportunities that allow for the practical application of skills and knowledge. Congratulations to our student-poets on a job well done.

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

During Mental Health Awareness Month an important activity can be to learn more about what constitutes a mental health concern that may warrant additional attention. The National Institute of Mental Health designed this infographic to help individuals identify issues and the steps they can take to receive help.

2023 Middle School Promotion Dates

• Bayshore - Wednesday, June 14 at 1:30 p.m. - High School South
• Thompson - Wednesday, June 14 at 4 p.m. - High School South
• Thorne - Wednesday, June 14 at 6 p.m. - High School North Field

Note: If there is inclement weather on June 14, the middle school promotion ceremonies will be held indoors in the HS South gymnasium on June 14.

2023 High School Graduation Dates

• High School South - Thursday, June 15 at 1:30 p.m. - High School South
• High School North - Thursday, June 15 at 4 p.m. - High School North

Note: The high school graduation rain date is Friday, June 16.