Prior to the April 25 Workshop/Voting Meeting, the Middletown Township Public School District Board of Education and Administration honored the District's support staff employees of the year. The annual recognition program highlights the outstanding service and dedication to our school community demonstrated by our security guards, paraprofessionals, administrative secretaries, and maintenance and custodial staff, while celebrating a select individual from each of our 16 schools, Central Office, and facilities.

"Each and every one of the support staff employees honored here tonight exemplifies what our district stands for and helps create the environment that allows our students to thrive," said Superintendent of Schools, Mary Ellen Walker.

"The word support in your award describes how you work as part of a team, and how as a district we are much greater than the sum of our parts," said District Director of Human Resources and Instruction, Charlene O'Hagan. "From the custodians who keep our buildings sparkling and safe so that learning may take place; to the maintenance staff who diligently maintain our buildings and grounds so we may drive through our 42-square miles and look upon their work with pride; to the paraprofessionals who guide our students to reach learning goals each day through their quiet attention to their students' individual and specific needs; to our secretaries who display magical powers to keep track of infinite details, always remain calm, and make everyone else's job easier; to the security guards who walk the halls and grounds of our schools carrying an invisible umbrella under which we gain a sense of safety, peace and calm; we extend a huge thank you to one and all."

Congratulations to the following support staff employees, and thank you for all that you do for our school community.

• Stephen Coll - Bayview, Security Guard
• Lori Modafferi - Fairview, Paraprofessional
• Judy Wong - Harmony, Paraprofessional
• Tara McNulty - Leonardo, Paraprofessional
• Pete Yasuk - Lincroft, Security Guard
• Lauren Sweeney - Middletown Village, Principal's Secretary
• Anthony Brock - Navesink, Security Guard
• Michael Devlin - New Monmouth, Paraprofessional
• Soledad Kocur - Nut Swamp, Paraprofessional
• Jennifer Paduano - Ocean Avenue, Security Guard
• Phil Calabro - River Plaza, Security Guard
• Kevin Lovett - Bayshore, Night Custodian
• Wendy Rowan - Thompson, Guidance Secretary
• Darlene Freshnock - Thorne, Principal's Secretary
• Mary Ann Scala - High School North, Principal's Secretary
• Dawn Carton - High School South, Paraprofessional
• Michele Mingino - Central Office, Curriculum Secretary
• Bill Shrewsbury - Buildings and Grounds, Maintenance

On Thursday, April 27, teachers, administrators and support personnel on the job throughout the Middletown Township Public School District received a helping hand from their children on National Take Your Child to Work Day. The event served as an opportunity for parents and guardians to bring their children into their professional environments and offer an inside perspective on how their unique roles and responsibilities contribute to the success of our school system.  

Take Your Child to Work Day was launched in 1993 by the New York City-based Ms. Foundation for Women. Initially, the event was termed Take Your Daughter to Work Day, but in 2003 was expanded to help all children explore potential career opportunities.

This year's edition of Take Your Child to Work to Day was a resounding success in our district. We would like to thank all of our staff members and their children for supporting our school community.

Congratulations to the following MTPS ensemble casts and individuals for earning nominations for the upcoming Basie Awards program, which will be hosted by the Count Basie Center for the Arts on May 24. Review the full list of Basie Award nominees.

Dramas and Comedies

Performance Nominees

• Jessica Heitmann - HS North, Featured Performance in a Drama
• Annie Kssinger - HS North, Featured Performance in a Drama
• Cole Bartalotti - HS North, Featured Performance in a Drama
• Sealth Grover - HS North, Featured Performance in a Drama
• Jay Fielding - HS South, Supporting Performance in a Comedy
• Rebecca Grodek - HS North, Supporting Performance in a Drama
• John Martin - HS North, Supporting Performance in a Drama
• Nim Boudreau - HS South, Lead Performance in a Comedy
• Ava Giglia - HS North, Lead Performance in a Drama
• Samuel Cusson - HS North, Performance in a Drama

Technical, Directorial and Ensemble Nominees

• Tom Smith and Pete Cusick - HS North, Lighting Design of a Play
• High School North - The Crucible, Outstanding Company in a Drama
• Amanda Faria - HS North, Direction of a Play
• High School North - The Crucible, Production of a Play

Musicals

Performance Nominees

• Jessica Ardolina - HS North, Les Miserables, Featured Performance in a Musical
• Rebecca Grodek - HS North, Les Miserables, Featured Performance in a Musical
• Bryan Reimertz - HS North, Les Miserables, Featured Performance in a Musical
• Ava Giglia - HS North, Les Miserables, Supporting Performance in a Musical
• Jessica Heitman - HS North, Les Miserables, Supporting Performance in a Musical
• Sealth Grover - HS North, Les Miserables, Supporting Performance in a Musical
• Aedan Liranzo - HS South, Chicago, Supporting Performance in a Musical
• Daniel Stefanski - HS North, Les Miserables, Supporting Performance in a Musical
• Julie Deltuvia - HS South, Chicago, Lead in a Musical
• Samuel Cusson - HS North, Les Miserables, Lead in a Musical
• John Martin - HS North, Les Miserables, Lead in a Musical

Technical, Directorial and Ensemble Nominees

• Tara Mahoney - HS North, Les Miserables, Outstanding Costume Design
• Laura Mazza - HS South, Chicago, Outstanding Costume Design
• Izzy Mingino - HS South, Chicago, Set Design of a Musical
• Tom Smith - HS North, Les Miserables, Set Design of a Musical
• Georgina Hicks - HS South, Chicago, Lighting Design of a Musical
• Tom Smith - HS North, Les Miserables, Lighting Design of a Musical
• David Buckle Jr. - HS North, Les Miserables, Mixed Student & Adult Orchestra
• Michael Raguseo - HS South, Chicago, All Student Orchestra
• Peter Isherwood - HS North, Les Miserables, Musical Direction
• Merry Murderesses - HS South, Chicago, Featured Ensemble Group
• HS North - Les Miserables, Chorus in a Musical
• HS South - Chicago, Chorus in a Musical
• Liza Perna - HS South, Chicago, Choreography
• Amanda Faria - HS North, Les Miserables, Direction of a Musical
• Alexis Kozak - HS South, Chicago, Direction of a Musical
• HS North, Les Miserables, Production of a Musical
• HS South, Chicago, Production of a Musical

The selection of several MTPS elementary school students to perform with the Central Jersey Music Educator's Association (CMJEA) honors band is music to our ears. Earlier this month, the following Nut Swamp Elementary School and Bayview Elementary School students were tapped to perform as part of a large instrumental ensemble of peers from across the Central Jersey region. Their selection illustrates CMJEA's commitment to celebrating scholastic musicians and offering invaluable performance experiences with their grade-level peers. Congratulations to the following MTPS students, and their band director, Mr. Chris Lyons.

• Robert DiFortuna, Nut Swamp
• William Hughes, Nut Swamp
• Elizabeth Kortenhaus, Nut Swamp
• Cooper Mattison, Bayview
• Dominick Niebergall, Bayview
• Rory Ribber, Nut Swamp

Though the annual recognition of Earth Day fell on Saturday, April 22, students across the Middletown Township Public School District participated in a variety of environmentally conscious activities on their respective campuses, and at nearby park system locations.

Thompson Middle School students went on a beautification walk around their school grounds to remove litter and debris.

New Monmouth Elementary students in Mrs. Russo and Mrs. Mema's third grade classes took a trip to Poricy Park, where they learned about native plants and wildlife, hiked through the park's many walking paths, and sifted for organic materials in the vast network of waterways.

Bayview Elementary School students in Mrs. Amy Jennings' class stayed on campus to help spruce up their school's garden. Students removed weeds, replaced soil, and prepared the grounds for plantings that will yield vegetables to be donated to local non-profit organizations.

MTPS students also participated in Earth Day-themed classroom activities, like promoting the recycling and reuse of materials to create toys, jewelry, clothing, and other useful items. Students also used nature as inspiration, featuring the natural habitats of their campuses in art work and film footage for upcoming projects.

Earth Day was established in 1970 as a way to celebrate the modern environmental movement and raise awareness for environmental concerns and sustainability activities. The event was founded by United States Senator Gaylor Nelson (Wisconsin) following a 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Two decades after its inception, Earth Day was elevated to the international stage, motivating more than 200 million citizens across 141 nations to participate in Earth Day events on April 22, 1990.

Earth Day 2023 was projected to have more than a billion global citizens take part in activities that promote environmental consciousness and sustainability efforts, including:

• Trash pickup hikes
• Beach sweeps
• Cleaning out drainage areas
• Tree replenishment
• Wildflower and native plant cultivation efforts

On Wednesday, April 26, the Middletown Township Public School District recognized Administrative Professional's Day, a national event that celebrates the work of secretaries, administrative assistants and other office professionals for their contributions to the workplace. We thank all of our administrative professionals for their dedication to our school community. So often our administrative professionals are the first point of contact for parents, guardians, students and community members in search of support. Thanks to our incredible personnel members, these individuals are seen, heard and promptly directed to the information or administrator they seek. Thank you to our incredible administrative professionals for their commitment to our district.

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

Henry Ford once said, “Working together is success.” Please join us on Thursday, May 4th for our culminating parent/community event of the year. The Power of Partnerships is an opportunity for MTPS parents and guardians to meet and speak with local community agencies that partner with the Middletown Township Public School District to support our students and their families. Pre-register for the event by following the link or scanning the QR code below.

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.