During a May 15 student recognition program at High School North, the Middletown Township Board of Education and Administration celebrated our students' achievements in the areas of fine, practical and performing arts. The recognition program was led by MTPS Director of Arts and Business Education, Mr. Steven Graziano, who expressed his pride and gratitude to the students and educators for the dedication they have demonstrated to their craft and the commitment they have given to furthering the arts in our school community.

"For those who may not know me, I've been a part of this District since I was five-years old," said Graziano. "This is an absolute honor for me to be here tonight with so many names to read and recognize for their incredible achievements. The arts have been a large part of my life, for my entire life. I performed multiple times on this very stage as a student at High School North. And my love for the arts, just like our students here tonight, blossomed because of teachers I had in my life. So I want to thank all of our arts teachers who are with us here tonight, as well as our students, for the love they express for the arts, and the arts culture they have helped cultivate in our District."

For a full list of students and educators who were honored, please see the May 15 Student Recognition Program. Congratulations to our honorees for your outstanding accomplishments.

Thorne Middle School seventh grade student-athlete Jillian Murphy delivered a gold-medal performance on May 13 at Long Branch High School, where athletes from Monmouth and Ocean Counties converged to compete in the Special Olympics Area 6 Track and Field Championships. Murphy, who has been competing in Special Olympics events since she was in elementary school, won a pair of gold medals in the standing long jump and softball throw events. Murphy demonstrated her athletic versatility by rounding out her performance with a bronze medal in the 50-meter run. Congratulations to Jillian on her incredible performance. We look forward to seeing her succeed in future events.

The way in which teens may obtain working papers in New Jersey will change on June 1, 2023 to more streamlined, digital process. Thanks to a new law adopted by the state legislature, the working papers process will be online and no longer involve local school personnel. Instead, younger workers will simply visit the Department of Labor and Workforce Development website and follow few simple steps. Follow the links below for more information.

• If you are in need of working papers June 1
• More information for young workers

Earlier this week, New Monmouth Elementary School introduced what may be the start of very special tradition with its inaugural Special Person's Snack event. The campus was alive with heartfelt emotion, as students welcomed special guests to their outdoor snack time as a way to recognize and demonstrate just how much these individuals mean to their lives. Students were joined by parents, grandparents, siblings and staff members who mean the world to them. Students snacked at picnic tables, in beach chairs, and on blankets, while listening to music, reading books and so much more. Congratulations to New Monmouth Elementary School on the beginning of what is certain to be a supremely special event each school year.

On Thursday, May 18, in cooperation with the Middletown Township Parks and Recreation Department, The Middletown Township Police Department, and Hackensack Meridian Health, Bayview Elementary School hosted our community's annual Youth Bike Rodeo. The event welcomed Middletown students in grades 1 through 5 to bring their bikes and helmets to campus to learn more about bike safety, the rules of riding on roadways, and the proper way to secure their protective headgear. Students were guided through a variety of learning and riding stations, and boy scouts and girl scouts even earned badges for their participation. Thank you to all of the event leaders for helping to keep our students safe while traveling the roads to and from school.

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.