Giving Back to Our Community It is our obligation to educate students on the importance of giving back to the community. Our district prides itself on helping the community, and during this school year, students and staff have worked together to give back. Please continue reading below.
Message from Superintendent of Schools, David Salvo, Ed.D. According to McConnell – Williams (1997), “students who give voluntarily of their time discover that they have the responsibility to help others improve their quality of life.” This author further asserts that “students saw that they had the power within themselves to effect change in others. They developed an equal partnership with adults and realized that good citizenship involved caring, responsibility and sacrifice.”
Middle Township Public Schools 216 South Main Street Cape May Court House Phone: 609.465.1800 Fax: 609.463.1979
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Upcoming Events: pril 29 Cape May County Color Fun A Run @ The Cape May County Zoo, 8am May 1-5 Preschool and Kindergarten Registration @ Elementary #1 May 1-12 AP Testing @ MTHS May 1-19 PARCC regular administration grades 3 to 8
Such outcomes drive Middle Township Public Schools to continuously seek out opportunities for community engagement. Our students have participated in a host of activities this year from anti-bullying events to blood drives, toy drives, reading nights and countless fundraisers.
May 6 SAT @ MTHS
John Dewey, father of the Progressive Era, stated (1938) that learning in a school should be continuous with that out of school and engage students in reaching outside the walls of a school and into the surrounding community.
ay 13 Middle Masters Golf M Tournament @ Avalon Golf Club, 1:30pm
We are grateful to the communities of Cape May County for supporting our students in pursuing out-of-school experiences that build character. At Middle Township Public Schools, we create educational opportunities that enhance our students’ academic and social skills. Fostering student growth and development is the most important goal for any school. APRIL 2017 |
Vol 1 Issue 4
May 9 High School Spring Band Concert @ PAC, 7pm May 12 High School Academy Dance Show @ PAC, 7pm
May 16 High School Choir Concert @ PAC, 7pm May 18 BOE Meeting @ 7pm May 19 Prom @ The Flanders May 25 Middle School Band and Choir Concert @ PAC, 7pm May 29 Schools Closed ay 31 Elementary #2 Band Concert M @ PAC, 7pm
School 2 Students Middle School raises $26,703 for Bring History Children’s Cancer Research to Life About 25 fifth-grade students from Middle Township Elementary School 2 literally brought their learning to life recently through an innovative school project. As part of their Gifted and Talented reading class, led by teacher Kelsey Acker, the students studied biographies. They then each chose an historical person to study more in-depth and report on. As part of their report, the students took on the persona of their chosen figure in a “Living” Wax Museum. Peers and family members had a chance to see the presentations and learn more by pressing a pretend button to bring each wax figure to life.
Carmine Fuscellaro portrays the co-founder of Apple, Inc., the late Steve Jobs, at the Middle Township Elementary School 2 “Living” Wax Museum.
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After a short hiatus, the Middle Township Middle School brought back its St. Baldrick’s Day assembly on March 17, in support of seventhgrade student Ariel Caro who is undergoing cancer treatment at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Caro joined other area children who also are in treatment or in remission as honored guests. Caro kicked off the event by shaving the head of Middle School Assistant Principal Jeff Ortman. An impressive 72 administrators, teachers, students and community members volunteered to have their hair cut or head shaved to both show support for patients undergoing chemotherapy and to raise money to support childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Jay DeVico, a senior at Middle Township High School, underwent treatment for cancer when he was in fifth grade. He said that the support from his friends and the greater community kept him going. “This event is a show of support for those
currently in treatment, and it will really help those who are currently going through what I once went through,” he said. DeVico has been in remission for five years. Hair stylists from the community volunteered their time to perform the cuts and shaves. Many of the individuals who opted for the cuts donated their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. “I was nervous about cutting my hair, but then I thought of all the people who must be selfconscious when they go through chemotherapy, and I thought that this was the least I could do to support them,” said sixth-grade student Jaycie Napoleon. The school and the community came together to make this year’s St. Baldrick’s Day assembly by far the best yet, with $25,293 raised at the close of the assembly. The total has since risen to $26,703. Donations continue to be accepted at www.stbaldricks.org/events/ MTMSshaves.
District AP Scores Above New Jersey & Global Averages Many high school students currently are hitting the books to prepare for Advanced Placement Exams held between May 1 and 12. However, if last year’s scores are any indication, our students are well prepared. Last year, 54 of the 66 Middle Township High School students who took an Advanced Placement Exam scored a 3 or better out of the 5-point scale. That means 81.8 percent of Middle Township AP students received a passing mark. This figure is above the percentage
of total AP test takers in New Jersey who received a 3 or better – 71.9 percent – and well above the percentage of total students globally who earned a 3 or better – 60.3 percent. “We are very fortunate that we have outstanding AP teachers and instructors who go above and beyond, even meeting in the summer and on weekends, to ensure that our students can continue to achieve high scores,” said MTHS Principal Frank Riggitano. The High School offered students 14 different AP Exams last year,
and many students opted to take multiple exams. The school administered 134 total exams to the 66 AP students. In fact, the school had 27 AP Scholars. “We deliver a formal presentation to eighth-grade students every year to highlight our programs at the high school and outline what students need to do to be successful in them,” said Riggitano. “We start talking about success early on, and then our curriculum and instructors really support students who have the will and the drive.”
In an “Ivy League” of Their Own With high test scores, stellar grade point averages, demanding course loads and full resumes of extracurricular activities, three Middle Township seniors have earned their way into the nation’s most competitive universities. Anika Buchanan has been accepted to Yale University for theater arts; Emma Carlson has been accepted to both Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania to study chemistry; and Ruby Washington has been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania to study biomedical engineering. “Middle Township has prepared me to stand out among a competitive applicant pool by giving me the opportunity to be involved in numerous extracurricular activities
at once, to hold various leadership positions in the community, and to saturate my schedule each year with the most Emma Carlson difficult courses,” said Carlson. She currently is first in the Class of 2017. Carlson is leaning toward the University of Pennsylvania, where Washington will attend next year. Washington is currently second in the Class of 2017. She is eager to go to Penn after learning more about its biomedical engineering program at an accepted students day. Although Buchanan is leaning toward declining her acceptance to Yale in favor of a school with
a program more centered around musical theater, she still appreciates the significance of the achievement and also credits her experience at
L, Ruby Washington; R, Anika Buchanan
Middle Township for setting her up for success. “I’ve been able to take a lead part in the musical for four years, and I’m involved with choir, voice, piano and dance all this year,” she said.
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Referendum Update
Spring Sports in Full Swing Our Middle School and High School student athletes have kicked off the spring athletic season and look forward to a couple of months of competition under the sun. Enjoy the change in weather by cheering on our Panthers. At the Middle School, our girls are competing in softball, and our boys are playing baseball.
Work continues on projects in Phase 1 of the referendum – and we can see the progression each day. The steel construction has begun at Elementary School 1 on the addition of seven new pre-kindergarten classrooms, including two inclusion classrooms and a Pre-K Court, and an extended gymnasium. Everything is on schedule. For the projects within Phase 2, the bids have been approved for the new athletic fields adjacent to Elementary School 2, the electrical work at the Middle School and the window replacements and HVAC work at the High School Gym B. We have advertised a rebidding of work at Elementary School 2, which includes a transportation garage. The district is thrilled to provide you with these updates and to see projects progressing that will enhance our teaching and learning environment. We cannot thank you enough for supporting our schools, and most importantly, our students. APRIL 2017 | 4
At the High School level, our Lady Panthers are competing in softball, lacrosse, golf, and track and field. The track and field team kicked off its season with all participants medaling at the Buena Relays. Highlights included Caroline Gallagher and Abri Bostard winning first place in the pole vault with a combined 15-foot vault in their first-ever competition. Gabby Toth and Bridget Donohue captured first in javelin with a combined 144-foot throw. In lacrosse, look for Bridget Ruskey to net her 400th goal this spring. She’s had more than 100 in each of her first three seasons. School 1 Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration Although the renovated Pre-K will not be completed at Elementary School 1 in time for the 2017-2018 school year, the school continues to enroll students. Pre-K students must be 4 years old on or before Oct. 1. The Pre-K also has one special education classroom for 3 and 4
The High School boys are competing in baseball, golf, lacrosse, tennis, and track and field. Look for the baseball team to help Head Coach Chuck Dougherty notch his 300th career win this season. The golfers are off to a strong start, with PJ Schulte getting an eagle in an early matchup against St. Joseph. Check out the Athletics Department on the district’s website for a full schedule of spring sporting events, and remember to follow Middle Township High School Athletics on Facebook.
L, Caroline Gallagher; R, Abri Bostard
year olds. The school uses the stateapproved Creative Curriculum. School 1 is also registering students for kindergarten who will be 5 years old on or before Oct. 1. Both registrations take place May 1-5 by appointment only. Pick up registration packets at School 1 prior to the above dates. At that time, receive an appointment timeslot.
