School Highlights

Pine Brook School April Highlights

The PTA donated greenhouses, students competed in the Battle of the Books, and the chorus and jazz band performed for students and parents.

  Battle of the Books Under the direction of Mrs. Steiner, the Annual Pine Brook Battle of the Books was held on April 11th in the Media Center. Six teams competed for the ultimate title of Battle of the Books Champions. The competition was fierce and it was a close battle. Most importantly, all students read numerous books and were proud to represent their teams at the Battle.   Chorus and Jazz Band Concert Under the direction of Miss Singer and Mr. Rusin, the Pine Brook Chorus and Jazz Band performed both in school and for the community on April 19th. The combined performance was outstanding and the students are ready for their move stardom in the future.   Pine Brook PTA Donates Greenhouse The Pine Brook PTA generously donated a 12’x16…

• Photos (1)

School Highlights

Taylor Mills School April Highlights

Students learned how to save the planet during Earth Week, about crime scene science, and engaged in convocation with students from Lafayette Mills School.

The following highlights are submitted by Irene Policastro, the Secretary to Superintendent John J. Marciante of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District. Earth Day The students of Taylor Mills School were very busy this April! In honor of Earth Day, our students participated in a host of activities designed to promote awareness of all the simple things they can do to help protect their planet. Throughout Earth week, students discussed some of the problems our earth is facing and pledged to help out in specific ways. Our student government led the charge in each of their classrooms. Students enjoyed the opportunity to play the “experts.” For one hour each day, classrooms participated in our “Lights Out!” campaign aimed at …

• Photos (1)

Georgian Court to go Co-Ed in 2013

Male students to live on campus and compete in athletics

Georgian Court University announced a change on Tuesday that will dramatically change the face of the Lakewood school in the fall of 2013. The school will go co-ed after having served as a school for women since it opened more than 100 years ago. The school, which had only allowed men to take classes at night, will allow them to reside on campus as well as take part in the school's athletic program.  The decision, according to a school news release, followed "a strategic planning process that began in the summer of 2011."  Tara Strickland, the school's assistant editorial director, said having men on the campus will not be new as they have been allowed to attend graduate classes since 1976 and regular classes since 1979. But fall 2013 will…

• Photos (1)

POLL: Are Student Secrets a Proper Test Question?

Marlboro recently completed its NJ ASK testing, and some parents weren't happy with the questions on the test.

The NJ ASK standardized testing is designed to test the general knowledge of state kindergarten through eighth grade students, but this year it also tested their ability to keep a secret. According to the Asbury Park Press, students in New Jersey reported to their parents that they were asked to reveal a secret in an essay portion of the test, and reveal why the secret was hard to keep. New Jersey Department of Education Spokesman Justin Barra confirmed with the Asbury Park Press that the "secret" question was on the test, but was not a part of the students' scores. But some parents, including Richard Goldberg of Marlboro, said he thinks the question was inappropriate. According to Barra, that question appeared in 15 districts as a "field …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Shannon K. Winning

10:22 am on Monday, May 14, 2012

Super dumb idea for a school test. But considering it for my kids at home....   more ›

FRHSD Special Education Program Touches Lives

Administrators and teachers from the Freehold Regional High School District presented an overview of the Special Education program.

Sarah Kim is a junior in the Freehold Regional High School District. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth, after her mother passed away due to complications of birth. "My life has been filled with obstacles, but somehow I always overcome them," she said. Kim pushed past teachers who didn't think she could succeed, past administrators in different districts telling her she needed rehab over academics, straight to high school honors classes and a spot on the National Honors Society. Kim said her inclusion into the general education population wasn't enough, she wanted the challenge of honors. Today, she dreams of a spot at Columbia University in New York. Kim's story acts as a testament to the special education program in the …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Kaitlyn Anness

8:13 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Tom--RLA students have behavioral and learning disabilities, as stated in the article. Not all of the students show violent tendencies.   more ›

Sampson: Manalapan Early Dismissal Went By the Books

The Freehold Regional High School District said the school was cleared of paint fumes, but dismissed on May 2 as a precaution.

A precutionary early dismissal on May 2 at Manalapan High School was done by the books, according to Superintendent Charles Sampson. At approximately 11:35 a.m., students and faculty complained of a strong odor near the gymnasium in the high school. The cause of the odor was determined to be paint fumes coming from the boiler room. "It was unacceptable," Sampson said. Sampson expanded by saying the paint was approved for use in school, but not doing school hours. County health officials cleared the building and advised that evacuation was unnecessary, however school officials decided to dismiss students at 2 p.m., after arrangements were made for busing. During the situation, students were kept away from the area of school where odor was …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Athletes, Want a College Scholarship? Quit Dreaming. Get Busy.

Snagging scholarships takes deliberate action. A collegiate athletic recruiting expert revealed how the system really works at St. John Vianney High in Holmdel Thursday night.

Ishmael Hyman, 16, of Manalapan is a lightning fast wide receiver on the St. John Vianney football team. Recently his coaches helped the junior send out an email to college coaches with a link to a highlights video he created. "As soon as we clicked "send" -- the phone calls started coming in," said Head Football Coach Andy Carlstrom. Not long after, he got offers from Rutgers, Boston College, U. Mass, and Old Dominion. His mother, Tonia, says she's learning all she can to prepare for her next move in the strategic game of college recruitment. "You've got to be the one out there. You've got to be your own advocate," she said. Which is why she, and about 100 other parents, turned out Thursday night to hear an energetic national college …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (2)

Christina Johnson

10:25 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012

Interesting post, Joe. Thanks for adding to the conversation.   more ›

HS District Cuts 3 Teaching Positions

The board unanimously voted to eliminate three full-time teaching positions.

The Freehold Regional High School District abolished two English teaching positions and one World Language teaching position last week. The eliminations, also known as a reduction in force, were due to an overall downsizing of the English Department, according to Communications and District Projects Coordinator Nakell Williams. According to the state law listed in the district’s resolution, “a Board of Education may reduce the number of teaching staff members employed in the district whenever, in the judgment of the board, it is advisable to abolish any such positions for reasons of economy or because of reduction in the number of pupils or of change in the administrative or supervisory organization of the district or for other good cause…

•  33 Comments
• Photos (1)

John J

5:41 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

you get tenure AFTER 3 years...so he goes, they keep the teacher with one year, until he reaches 3, then he goes...allows the "experienced" teachers to stay (oh, wait, forgot...they cant get rid of them after 3). wanna see something really scary? go to the budget and read the salaries these poor underpaid teachers make...along with the almost free health care. as for this teacher being younger …   more ›

UPDATE: MHS to Resume Normal Schedule Tomorrow

After closing earlier today due to toxic fumes, the school has been cleared by officials for resumption tomorrow.

Manalapan High School, which closed at 1 p.m. today due to fumes emanating from the school's boiler room where a concrete floor was being painted, will resume normal schedule tomorrow, according to a release recently distributed by the Freehold Regional High School District. The administration responded quickly to the reported odors and the classes in close proximity to the boiler room were immediately moved to another location, the release said. Odors were not reported in other areas of the building. "As a precaution, location Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the appropriate Manalapan Township and Monmouth County officials were notified of the concerns," the release said. "As the safety of our students and staff is of paramount …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)