Monmouth County Superintendents United in Ensuring Safe Opening
The Monmouth County Superintendents are united in ensuring a safe and orderly opening to the 2021-2022 school year. Such openings require clear and consistent guidance for all members of our school community. Please see a message from Mary Ellen Walker, Middletown Superintendent, and the collective superintendents of Monmouth County. This letter will be forwarded to state legislators and Governor Murphy.
High School North Creatives Featured in Digital Arts Show
High School North students studying in the Applied Arts and Design program with Mrs. Carin Kuzmin recently had their work featured in a virtual visual arts showcase, displaying their creations from the 2020-21 academic year.

"The student artwork is amazing! And our wonderful teaching staff did an incredible job inspiring and helping their students to demonstrate their talents," said Superintendent of Schools, Mary Ellen Walker.

Mrs. Kuzmin said this virtual showcase is a testament to the skill and perseverance of her students to create during the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 health crisis.

"Our students demonstrated strength, creativity and growth. While the rules and standards within the art room limited our general use of multi-media, next year, in what will hopefully be a normalized learning environment, we look forward to working again with a variety of mediums, including clay and plaster."

Kuzmin said she also hopes this art showcase can return to the High School North Media Center, where it was traditionally held 17 years prior.

North News Sits Down with
Legendary NJ Rocker Bobby Bandiera
Middletown North's award winning news anchor, Sophia Haber Brock, continued her regular interview series with a legend of the New Jersey music scene, Bobby Bandiera.

Bandiera performed as a touring musician with Bon Jovi from 2005-2015, and for two decades has served as the lead guitarist for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Bandiera's own band has also been called upon over the years by Bruce Springsteen to back the boss at various fundraising performances.

Watch Haber Brock's full interview with Bandiera below.
High School South Earns Recognition from Anti Defamation League
Middletown High School South was recognized by the Anti Defamation League by earning designation as "No Place for Hate."

No Place for Hate is a self-directed program that empowers students, educators and community members to cultivate a learning environment that promotes inclusivity, respect and equity.

With this recognition, High School South joins more than 1600 schools across the nation to be designated as "No Place for Hate."

For more information about the No Place for Hate program, please visit the Anti Defamation League website.
Students Honored During Board of Education Recognition Ceremony
Prior to the May 25 Board of Education Voting Meeting, the Board of Education and District Administrative Team honored various students for recent academic, creative, philanthropic and athletic achievements.

The following student-athletes (pictured above) were recognized for competing in New Jersey's Special Olympics.

  • Brooke Charles, High School South
  • Rochelle Donaldson, Thorne Middle School
  • Brianna Emmerson, Thorne Middle School
  • Michael Frunzi, High School South
  • Andrew Heer, High School South
  • Carly Hoffman, Harmony Elementary School
  • Sean Liberatore, Bayshore Middle School
  • Marek Moylan, High School South
  • Lochlan Pullen, Middletown Village Elementary School
The following students (pictured above) were recognized for their accomplishments in the 2021 Law Day Contest, hosted by the Superior Court of New Jersey.

  • Abhigna Chittiboina, Fairview, Law Day Poetry Contest, 1st Place
  • Olivia Lopusznick, New Monmouth, Law Day Poetry Contest, 2nd Place
  • Emily Helwig, New Monmouth, Law Day Poetry Contest, 3rd Place
  • Jeff Jiju, Fairview, Law Day Art Contest, 1st Place
  • Lindsey Winters, New Monmouth, Law Essay Contest, 1st Place
The following students (pictured above) were recognized for earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

  • Kevin Carmody, High School North
  • James DeRugerlis, High School South
  • Jack Zrebiec, High School North
The students pictured above were recognized for their inclusion in the 700 and 800 clubs, respectively. Students earn their place in this club by registering a 700 or higher on a subject area test(s) for the College Board SAT's. Follow the link to the review the 2020-21 High School North and South SAT 700-800 Club Members.
High School North senior Luke Kratz (pictured above) was recognized for receiving the High School Guidance Caring Award. Luke was chosen to represent his school community for demonstrating exceptional caring and compassion to a cause, group, or program during his high school career.
The following students (pictured above) were recognized as New Jersey Technology Student Association State Competition Recipients.

  • Shachi Benara, High School South - Honorable Mention (National Center for Women & Technology - Awards for Aspiration in Computing)
  • Shachi Benara, High School South - 1st Place - Promotion and Design (NJ Technology Student Association State Competition)
  • Melissa Rich, High School South - 2nd Place - Optical Engineering (NJ Technology Student Association State Competition)
  • Morgan Scasny, High School South - 2nd Place - Optical Engineering (NJ Technology Student Association State Competition)
Watch the May 25 Board of Education Voting Meeting
High School North Captures Monmouth County Championship
The Middletown North girls track and field program celebrates winning the Monmouth County Championship for the second time in program history.
The High School North girls track and field program captured the Monmouth County Championship for the second time in program history.

The team's title chase was led by senior Rett Schnoor and junior Hailey Guerrieri, who each secured two individual championships. The dynamic duo's efforts helped the Lions register 84 total team points to edge second place Colts Neck (68 points) and third place Holmdel (67.5 points).

Schnoor, who will continue her academic and athletic career at Monmouth University, won the 100-meter dash event with a time of 12.55, before leaping to a first place finish in the long jump with a mark of 17-10. Schnoor added a second place finish in the 200-meter race with a time of 25.58, just .36 seconds off the championship pace of Holmdel's Sydney Goldson.

Guerrieri was victorious in the triple jump event with a 33-08 as well as the 100-meter hurdle event, where she placed first with a time of 15.53 ahead of teammates Olivia Kielty (16.2) and Kathleen Mayhew (16.73), who finished second and third, respectively.
Middle School Artists Display Work During Outdoor Expos
Visual and performing artists from Thorne and Thompson Middle Schools put their work on display this week during outdoor expos that featured table and window displays established around the campus.

Peers, families and community members were invited to walk around the respective campuses to observe the work of these talented artists, before being treated to socially distanced band performances.
MTPS Summer Reading Materials Now Available
In preparation for the summer recess, earlier this week the district administrative team released its summer reading menus for K-12 students. You can review the reading menus below.

K-5 Summer Reading Menus


Middle School Summer Reading Menus


High School Summer Reading Menus

District Admin Team Offers Strategic Planning Update
During the May 19 Board of Education Workshop Meeting, the district administrative team provided an update on the strategic planning process for the 2020-2025 school years.

Watch the full presentation below and follow along by reviewing the MTPS Strategic Planning Update Presentation (5.19.21).
Watch the May 19 BOE Meeting; Join us for the May 25 Voting Meeting
Thank you for your interest in attending the May 25 Board of Education Voting Meeting.

Meeting agendas are available by visiting the "Board of Education" section of the District website.

NOTE: In-person seating will be available to the public in the High School North media center. Seating will be conducted in accordance with six-foot social distancing mandates. If needed, overflow seating and a live stream of the meeting will be available in the High School North auditorium.
 
Virtual Access to the May 25 BOE Voting Meeting

The public meeting will begin after executive session at approximately 8 p.m.

Please follow the link, or the U.S. dial-in phone option, to attend.
MTPS Middle School Promotion and High School Graduation Schedules
On Friday, May 14 Middletown Township Public Schools released the dates of its upcoming middle school promotion and high school graduation ceremonies.

All events will be held on the football fields of High School North and High School South, respectively.

For additional information please visit the district website, or your middle or high school website.

Middletown Village Students Celebrate Movers and Shakers
For the final leg of their reading workshop character unit, third grade students at Middletown Village Elementary School participated in a project focused on significant individuals who changed the world.

Students choose a biography of interest from the "Who Is/Was" series and applied their character study skills and strategies to develop a greater understanding about the life and contributions of their subjects.

During their reading workshops, student researchers in Mr. Font, Mrs. Markiewicz and Mrs. Woods’ classes experienced the Holocaust with Anne Frank, planned a theme park with Walt Disney, discussed conservation with Steve Irwin, sang classic soul music with Aretha Franklin and fought for equality with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Through mini-lessons, conferences, post-its and notebook entries, students worked at home with recycled plastic bottles to create a physical representation of the individual they studied. The models were displayed in a school museum for peers, faculty and staff to visit during Middletown Village's Museum Day. Next to the models, student researchers placed a Chromebook for visitors to watch a recorded video that provides additional information about their subject, and to answer two important essay questions:

  • Why is there a book about your subject?
  • How would the world be different without your subject?

During Museum Day, fifth grade students were invited to view the bottles, watch the videos and discuss the work these student researchers completed. School parents were also invited to view a digital recording of the Museum Day exhibits via Google Slides.

While the method by which this unit was shared was different than in previous school years, these researchers were not only able to celebrate their world changing subjects, but also the BIG work they did as readers.
HS North Filmmakers Cover Helicopter Landings; Score Interview with Comedian Jim Breuer
High School North filmmakers Jacob Waters and Sophia Haber Brock had a busy week, as the former produced a short film documenting the visit paid to campus by an emergency rescue helicopter piloted by United States National Guardsmen, while the latter scored a sit down interview with world renowned comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Jim Breuer.
District Gathers Mental Health Panel to Educate Staff on Local Resources
On May 5th, the district hosted a Mental Health Panel to educate staff on the local Mental Health agencies and resources available in Monmouth County.

These local agencies work directly with families and staff within the district.

Some of the services provided include, but are not limited to:
  • Improving the Social-Emotional well-being of students
  • Fostering the development of coping skills and strategies
  • Housing needs/rental assistance
  • Utility assistance
  • Local food pantries
  • Substance abuse programs
  • Assistance with Special education/IEPs
  • Respit care
  • Suicide screenings
  • Parent child conflict interventions and supports for grief

Each year, community needs and services change, making this collaborative opportunity integral to our district staff. Additionally, the various agencies in attendance are able to learn from our staff the diverse needs of our district community, which benefits the development of their services.

The agencies included in the panel were: CIACC (County Interagency Coordinating Council), Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, YMCA, CPC Behavioral Health, Family Based Services, Monmouth Cares, Middletown Municipal Alliance and Crossroads, TLC (Traumatic loss coalition), Monmouth Medical Center-PESS (Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services), Riverview Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center Emergency services, and the Monmouth County prosecutor's Office Multidisciplinary Team.

For additional information and resources, please review Middletown Township Public Schools' Mental Health and Community Resources.
Bayview's Heroes Cafe Honored by Middletown Mayor Tony Perry
Bayview Elementary Schools' Heroes Cafe was honored to receive a special order this week from Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry, members of the Township Committee, and members of the Middletown Township Police Department's Administrative Team.

The students greeted the mayor outside the school with the prepared orders in hand, and provided the Mayor a tutorial about how to prepare the Heroes Cafe's specialty iced coffee.

The students spent time speaking with the elected officials and passing out orders.

Since January, in collaboration with the Bayview school community, the Heroes Cafe has raised more than $1000 for the No Limits Cafe. In honor of the Heroes Cafe's contributions, the No Limits Cafe has created a speciality grilled cheese sandwich. 

During this community based instruction project the students have learned that “there are NO LIMITS to what a HERO CAN DO!!"  

The Heroes Cafe would like to extend a special thank you to the amazing therapists and paraprofessionals who have supported this student-driven venture, as well as to Mrs. Tara Raspanti and Mrs. Danielle Schroeck for their continued support.
Thorne Students Beautify Campus with Chalk Displays
Thorne Middle School students in Mrs. Kristyn Corace's class expanded on their recent lessons about world renowned street artists Julian Beever and Edgar Muller by creating sidewalk art pieces of their own.

Like Beever, an artist who uses chalk to develop Trompe-l'œil pieces on sidewalks around the globe, Corace's students designed original works around the pathways of the Port Monmouth campus, bringing color and life to their cement canvases.

Keep up the wonderful work!
YMCA Offers COVID-19 Response Resources for Parents, Guardians and Teachers
The Middletown Township Public School District requires that a daily health screening form must be completed each day before your student(s) enters the building. Please visit the home page of your school's website to access your school's unique screening form, or follow the links below.