River Plaza Celebrates Passion Projects
at SPARK Tank Education Fair
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On Jan. 28, River Plaza Elementary School celebrated student passion projects with an education fair known as SPARK Tank.
The student showcase serves as an opportunity for fifth graders to display their SPARK initiatives.
The MTPS SPARK program is one that encourages students to research a topic of interest to them, document their learning journey, and design a product or plan of action to share with, and better, their surrounding community.
"It allows kids to be excited about what they learn, but most importantly, it gives the kids a chance to understand that, even though they are only 10 or 11 years old, they can be the change," said River Plaza Elementary Educator, Amanda Agresti.
SPARK is an acronym that stands for Student Pathways to Autonomy, Relevance, and Knowledge, and is an extension of the District's focus on expanding Global Citizenship Education. Learn more about the District's Global Citizenship Education efforts by
following the link
.
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This is a reminder that school parking is not permitted at locations like Normandy Park and Tindall Park, and violators are subject to ticketing.
This problem has existed for some time, but the Township agreed students would not be ticketed, allowing the District time to create additional parking spaces at High School South. Earlier this year, High School South collaborated with the Board of Education and District Administrative Teams to create more than 100 new parking spaces on campus.
After February 1, 2020, students who park at either Normandy or Tindall will be ticketed.
In past weeks, our High School administrative teams have made morning announcements, coordinated community email and phone call campaigns, and placed notices on their respective electronic marquees to notify students and community members that school parking at these sites is not permissible.
This parking regulation is a statewide mandate delivered by the New Jersey Green Acres program. Though these parks are Township recreation facilities, state parking regulations apply because of state funding that assists the municipality in the purchase land for parks, as well as for park enhancements and alterations. Therefore, use of park lands must be limited to recreational uses and users. Failing to observe this mandate could negatively impact future state aid for our park system.
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Township Honors Bayshore Students for Participation in Great Kindness Challenge
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On Tuesday, Jan. 28th Middletown Township Mayor, Tony Perry, and Committeewoman Patricia Snell visited Bayshore Middle School to honor the community for its participation in the Great Kindness Challenge.
The Great Kindness Challenge is a week-long, nationwide initiative that promotes positive bullying prevention to improve school environments and increase student engagement in performing acts of kindness.
In celebration of the effort, Perry and Snell presented students with a special proclamation.
"Bayshore Middle School is proudly demonstrating its commitment to improve school climate and engagement by participating in the Great Kindness Challenge, so it's an honor to unite all the students of Middletown in the kindness and respect we should all show each other," said Perry. "Therefore I am designating Jan. 27-31 as Kindness Matters in Middletown Week."
Throughout the week our students participated in spirit days, focused on specific acts of kindness, and listened to motivating words through quotes and music.
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Please follow the link below to see the MTPS 2019-2020 Mid-Year Review.
This digital magazine is a comprehensive overview of the educational initiatives and community partnerships developed by Middletown Township Public School students and personnel through the first half of the school year.
Head inside to learn more about efforts linked to:
- Community Connection
- Strategic Planning
- Effective Communication
- Student Growth and Achievement
- Personalized Learning for Students & Staff
- Social-emotional Learning
- And much more
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Lincroft Leopard Raises $17K for At-Risk Koalas Impacted by Australian Fires
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Earlier this month Lincroft Elementary School fourth grade student, Finley Elias, launched a fundraising effort in support of The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in Australia.
Due to the country's recent string of devastating bush fires, animal populations, including koalas, have been displaced by the destruction of their natural habitats.
In response to the international coverage of the bush fires, Elias designed a line of sweatshirts, t-shirts, and tote bags to raise funds for the hospital.
On Jan. 21st Elias had raised more than $3,500. By the end of the month that total has grown to an incredible $17,000.
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Jan. 29 Public Budget Meeting Video Out Now
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On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Board of Education and District Administrative Team met at High School North for a public presentation of the 2020-2021 Budget Background and Process. You can review the presentation at the link below and watch the meeting to the right.
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Port Monmouth Opens Koala Cove with Support from Middletown Library & Target
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Earlier in January Port Monmouth Elementary School celebrated the award of a $6,000 grant from the national retail corporation Target.
The funding was earmarked to assist with the revitalization of the school’s library. Along with the efforts of nearly 50 Target volunteers, who supplied the elbow grease for an aesthetic makeover of the reading center, the Middletown Township Public Library helped complete the project with a large collection of new reading materials.
On Jan. 30 Port Monmouth officially opened the Koala Cove with a launch party attended by students, parents, faculty, and board members.
“The reason for this project is that we never want to have one of our students tell us they don’t have a book to read,” said Port Monmouth Principal Maureen McCormack. “We have a school full of avid readers, and we want them to be reading during any spare time they have in their day. In order to do that, we need to give them the books. We want their love for reading to grow exponentially.”
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Important Dates
- Feb. 5 - Public Budget Meeting
- Feb. 12 - Strategic Planning Public Forum #3B
- Feb. 26 - BOE Workshop/Voting Meeting
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Upcoming Events at the
Middletown Township Public Library
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Agenda Available for Strategic Planning Forum 3B
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During its Jan. 2 reorganization meeting the Board of Education adopted Wednesday, Feb. 12 as the date of Strategic Planning Public Forum #3B.
The forum will be held in the High School South Cafeteria beginning beginning at 7 p.m.
Earlier this week, in cooperation with Schoolhouse Strategies and the Board of the Education, the District published the agenda for Forum #3B, which you can review by
following the link
.
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If you were unable to attend Forum 3A please review the materials below:
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The News Stand - Student Journalists at Work
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Follow the links below to review the latest reports from District school newspapers, newsletters, and video news teams.
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School Meal Menus Now Available for February
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In cooperation with Whitson's School Nutrition, the District strives to provide a wide selection of tasty and health-conscious meals for all students.
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On Jan. 17 Middletown Township announced that it is using Nixle as its sole emergency communications platform to provide immediate emergency alerts regarding severe weather conditions, traffic detours, criminal activity and public safety advisories.
Nixle enables “real time” notifications via text or email to registered users.
How to Register:
To register for Middletown-specific alerts, please text
"MiddletownNJ"
(no spaces) to the number
"888-777"
from your cell phone. You may also visit
www.middletownnj.org/nixle
to register for both mobile and email notifications.
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Fairview Elementary Students
Partake in Inaugural Give Back Week
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Fairview Elementary School wrapped up its inaugural Give Back Week on Friday, Jan. 17.
This weeklong event provided students an opportunity to learn about a local non-profit organization that is helping others in their community. Each grade was assigned a different organization and participated in a "Give Back" activity to illustrate the positive impact they can make.
Each session began with a representative from a non-profit organization speaking to the students about their own role, and their organization's goals.
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District Unified Sports Program Wraps Up Basketball Clinics
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On Jan. 22nd the District's new Unified Sports Program wrapped up its opening round of basketball clinics with a fourth and final workout at High School North. The session was followed by a team photograph.
Unified Sports is an initiative that brings together high school-age athletes with and with disabilities, placing them on the same team, and in equal and meaningful roles on that team.
The 2019-2020 Unified Sports Program will include basketball and track and field offerings. For more information about the MTPS Unified Sports,
please follow the link.
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New BOE Meeting Video For Jan. 22nd
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The Board of Education met on Jan. 22 at High School North for its first workshop/voting meeting of the new year.
Video of the meeting is now available by following the link to the right.
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All-Shore Conference Athletes Honored at BOE Meeting
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The Jan. 22nd meeting of the Board of Education at High School North served as a platform to recognize District athletes from the fall season who were selected to the All-Shore Conference Team for their respective sports.
The following athletes were honored by the Board of Education and Administrative Team.
- Katherine Coyle, High School South, First Team All-Shore Girls Soccer
- Filomena DiGregorio, High School South, First Team All-Shore Girls Soccer
- Emma Laudisi, High School South, First Team All-Shore Girls Soccer
- Daniel Minze, High School South, Second Team All-Shore Boys Soccer
- Renee Lioudakis, High School South, Second Team All-Shore Field Hockey
- Emma Keogh, High School South, First Team All-Shore Gymnastic
- Katherine Keogh, High School South, First Team All-Shore Gymnastics
- Christopher Lotito, High School South, First Team All-Shore Football (Defense)
- Edward Farrell, High School North, Second Team All-Shore Football (Defense)
- Matthew Krellin, High School South, Second Team All-Shore Football (Defense)
- Vincent Condito, High School South, Third Team All-Shore Football (Offense)
- Thomas Mielnikiewicz, High School South, Third Team All-Shore Football (Offense)
- Reese Fahys, High School South, First Team All-Shore, Girls Cross Country
- Lucy Afanasewicz, High School South, First Team All-Shore, Girls Cross Country
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Dr. Marla Beil Discusses the Positive Power of Student-led Conferences
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During the Jan. 22 Board of Education meeting at High School North, River Plaza and Nut Swamp Elementary School Education Technology Specialist, Dr. Marla Beil, presented her research dissertation on the increase of metacognition and student agency through the implementation of student-led conferences.
Beil, who recently completed the Ed.D. program at Monmouth University in Educational Leadership, found that these student-led conferences produced a positive impact on students. To review Beil's work and to learn more about student-led conferences,
please follow the link.
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Nut Swamp Students Pursue Passion to Support SPCA and St. Jude's
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The holiday season is a time of giving, and earlier this month five Nut Swamp Elementary School students donated the fruits of a passion project to the local branch of the SPCA and St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
In December Nut Swamp student Marlowe Schorr enlisted the help of her friends, Mia Collins, Emma Merces, and Lilah Nicosia, as well as her younger brother Max, to open a holiday pop-up shop in the Schorr household.
The group sold handcrafted jewelry, key chains, candles, and wind chimes, the type of items Marlowe has been crafting for several years. There was also a table for baked goods. Friends and family attended the craft sale, but soon word began to spread on social media, and eventually neighbors near and far came to support the effort.
In total the students earned $1,948, resulting in a donation of $1,248 to the SPCA, and a $700 donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
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Enrollment is now open for the 2020-2021 MTPS Preschool year.
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NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities Resources & Programs
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The state Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities provides public funding for services that assist New Jersey adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, age 21 and older, to live as independently as possible. Services are available in the community and in five state-run developmental centers.
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The Middletown Township Public School District is in the early early planning stages of developing a camp for students grades 5-8 interested in pursuing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programming in the summer of 2020.
Families of such students are invited to take part in a survey that indicates your child's availability for a potential STEAM Camp, and possible areas of study.
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The District has many outstanding educational support staff professionals, and we are asking for the community to help identify those individuals whose skills, dedication, and understanding have made a positive impact.
Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 7th and can be returned to your nominee's building principal.
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NEW Parent Information Committee Video
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The District's Parent Information Committee met on Tuesday Jan. 7 and a full video of that meeting is now available for review by following the link to the right.
For more information about the Parent Information Committee, including upcoming meeting dates, minutes, and agendas please visit
www.middletownk12.org/PIC
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2020-21 Kindergarten Enrollment Open Until Feb. 28
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Kindergarten enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year will open Jan. 6th and close Feb. 28th.
Eligible students must be five (5) years of age on or before Oct. 1st, 2020.
Upon completion of the online enrollment process, parents will be prompted to schedule an appointment to meet with the District registrar.
For more information please follow the link below.
NOTE:
A Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 at 7 p.m. at High School North (Snow Date - Jan. 28, 2020).
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Interested In Employment
Opportunities with the District?
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Throughout the year new employment opportunities arise for educators, paraprofessionals, and more.
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District Honored at 2019 NJSBA Workshop
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Educators across the District are engaging students in personalized learning opportunities that build the skills necessary to one day flourish during college studies, a trade school education or in a rapidly evolving global work environment.
The District was recognized for this forward-thinking approach on Sept. 16th during a ceremony at the 2019 New Jersey School Boards Association Workshop in Atlantic City. Read more
at the District website.
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Date Announced for Upcoming MCGDA Trade and Jobs Fair in Freehold
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The Monmouth County Guidance Directors Association is a professional non-profit organization composed of guidance directors from public and private schools across the county.
The organization invites students to its Trade and Jobs Fair on Feb. 27th from 6-8 p.m. at the Freehold Career Center to meet more than 50 representatives from trade schools, unions, employers, and the United States Military.
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A University Model in
Active Learning Classrooms
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The District has adapted the university "Active Learning Classroom" model from Rutgers University, and designed and implemented five new rooms in our middle schools and high schools. Research shows that active learning, when compared to individualistic learning, improves academic achievement, the quality of interpersonal interactions between peers, and a student's self-esteem. Learn more on the
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District Working to Develop
Global Citizenship Education
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District Supervisor of Social Studies and Technology, Wendy Morales, is emphasizing the concept of global citizenship education during the 2019-20 school year. As technology continues to transform higher education and workplace environments the importance of global competency for our students is rapidly increasing. To learn more about the District's global citizenship education efforts
please continue reading.
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2020-20201 High School Course Selection Guide
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Looking to get a jump on planning for next year's high school classes?
The administrative team has released the High School Course Selection Guide for the 2020-2021 school year.
To download and print the guide book, or to review a digital copy, please visit the High School & Middle School Course Offerings page on the
District website
.
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Learn More About Substitute Teaching
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If you are interested in a flexible employment option that fits your lifestyle, a substitute teaching position may fit well with your lifestyle.
If you would like to learn please connect with Middletown Township Public Schools District Manager Deanna Scanlon at
dscanlon@ess.com
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