March 16, 2018

Stella Sheppard, LMS student, flying during Seussical this week

Hello,

Happy Friday everyone!! I will admit that this week has been uniquely challenging and the fact that it is coming to an end is fine with me. I want to first thank the Greater Millville Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to speak at their luncheon two days ago. It was a fantastic hour spent with people who are dedicated to the betterment of Millville. Samantha Cruz, Millville City Supervisor of Parks and Public Properties, was honored as the citizen of the month. This recognition was well deserved as Samantha does a great deal to help the City improve. So congratulations to her and her lovely family who attended to celebrate with her.

Purposely keeping this week’s message 'short and sweet’, I hope everyone enjoys a well earned wonderful weekend with family and friends!

Shout-outs!

"Congrats to Jason Kessler, for being selected by the Daily Journal as the Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2017-2018 season. Jason was also recently approved by the Board of Education as the new Assistant Principal at MSHS."
~Dave LaGamba, Supervisor

"John Law is consistently providing expert support to keep our computer and telephone networks up and running. John does a great job helping our customers with their telephone and web site problems. John is also one who is always looking for ways to improve our processes and services."
~Dan Wright, Communications Manager

"Shout out to Yansi Alvardo-Cardona. Yansi does amazing work providing OT services at the Child Family Center. She also goes out of her way to help staff and parents. She provides insights, tips, and support to our teachers. Recently she translated for a mom, who recently relocated from Puerto Rico, during a Child Study Team meeting.  She ensures that parents are welcomed and understand all the workings of the Child Study Team process! She is a true asset to our early childhood program."
~Chris Barlas, Vice Principal

"A big shout out to Katie Burns, our new speech teacher at the Child Family Center.  Katie works with non-verbal children as well as children with speech deficits.  She is energetic and enthusiastic and never shys away from a challenge.  She also provides assistance to teachers and gives them suggestions on how to work with language delayed and speech children.  During CST meetings she speaks with parents in a kind and understanding manner, provides data of her work with the children and gives recommendations to the parents so they can help their child at home..  She is a great asset to our team at the Child Family Center."
~JoAnn Burns, Principal

 "Amy Gehringer, a sixth grade Social Studies teacher at Lakeside, is one of those rare teachers who works tirelessly for her students without any expectation of recognition.  Amy recently had her students create a museum on Ancient Egypt. Each student researched an area of choice and designed a three dimensional display for their museum.  Each class visited the museum and conducted themselves as though they were in an authentic museum.  They viewed the displays and answered questions about Ancient Egypt.  Allowing choice helped students think outside the box of those traditional topics and resulted in some of the most amazing displays I have ever seen.  Thank you Amy for all that you do!"
~Pat Wulk, Supervisor

"Carol Ann Ciccio is a resource for the Lakeside Staff. She meets with administration on a regular basis to ensure that the staff have their needs met. She is proactive and is always seeking ways to improve Lakeside Middle School."
~Spike Cook

"Thanks to these 8th grade math teachers for inviting me into their classroom for Pi Day: Tom Fien, Jennifer Todd, Jennifer Rauch, and Nancy Lokey! Their theme related lessons had students graphing, making words and shooting hoops! It's nice to see collaboration among the teachers as well as with the special and general education students. The teachers even did "plus/ delta" with the students at the end of the period."

"I have had the pleasure of meeting and observing Jennifer Gillen and Brieanna Hinrichsen,  two high school special education science teachers at that are new to Millville this school year. I was most impressed with their hands-on approach to science learning and their willingness to go above and beyond for their classified students."
~Debby Sukinik, Supervisor

"Congratulations to the staff, cast and crew of "Seussical, Jr." (Shari Booz, Erika Zeiters, Megan Belluci, Jillian Heacox, Jesse Jones, Tom Costa) The production was a great success and the hard work and extra hours was evident in the caliber of the production!
~Henry Hartman, Supervisor

"Super shout out to Tina Dallas, Special Education teacher at Holly Heights, whose high energy approach to teaching keeps her kiddos motivated, moving, and most of all learning.  I am impressed with the amount of quality instruction and energy Tina can pack into a 30 minute resource block.  Keep up the great work!"
~Maris Lynn, Supervisor

"I would like to thank the Equity and Diversity Team at the HS for all of their hard work in making sure the walkout was a safe and organized event.  They truly have the best interest of the school and students at all times.  They are kind amazing people that impact a the climate of the buildings in a positive way.  "Y'all Rock"

"A big shout out for Jason Kessler who dove right into his new position with ease.  He has already faced some challenging days and more are ahead in the world of Administration.  He is a great addition to our team and we are so glad to have him on board."
~Stephanie DeRose, Principal

"It is great gratitude that I extend a fond farewell to the English Department retirees, Sue Corson, Bernie Cirocco and Sue Flickinger. You have all touched so many of our student's lives over the years. Your dedication, time and patience have not gone unnoticed. I wish you the very best in your retirement. Best wishes!"
~Maggie Colina, Supervisor

"A big shout out to Megan Rosado.  Megan is our PBIS aide at Holly Heights and does an amazing job.  She greets everyone with a friendly smile and is eager to help both students and staff.  She goes the extra mile  to develop a positive rapport with our students and provides them with the skills they need to make better choices."
~Steve Saul, Principal

"Andrea Pfeiffer has coordinated job placements around the high school for our BD students.  The students complete jobs such as library workers that help file books, maintenance assistants that help with deliveries, cafeteria assistants that help prepare lunches, and LINK assistants that deliver passes. We are two weeks in and the students love their jobs! Thank you, Andrea, for coordinating these opportunities for the students!"
~Jessica Kauffman, Dept. Chair

"I would like to give recognition to Pat Wulk, Assessment Supervisor, as well as all of the staff/ testing facilitators involved with preparing for PARCC. It is a heavy responsibility preparing for this State mandatory assessment. I had the opportunity to sit in briefly on part of the training and was impressed with the staff as they worked to prepare for the upcoming assessment. While I have very strong feelings regarding how the PARCC results are used – I am very proud of the way our staff prepares and executes the State mandate."
~Dr. Gentile

Have a great weekend!

Regards,
Dr. G


Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001

#MPSWC (MPS World Class)
#greatdaytobeabolt

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

March 9, 2018 - No more snow edition!

Photo by Tim Tiedemann on Unsplash

Hello,

This week we have carefully faced more of Mother Nature’s winter weather. I would like to focus on ‘leadership’. Specifically the type of leadership that comes from sources other than our administration. I absolutely believe one of my main responsibilities is to foster an environment that encourages everyone to take a role in the leadership of our district. To accomplish this, I need to take my hands off the wheel  at times and that can feel scary. It is critical that I trust our employees to step up and take ownership for our success. Once the destination is set, the administrative leadership must encourage others to help determine the best way to get there. I must encourage other administrators to do the same – to encourage others under their supervision to take risks, to innovate, and do so with the administrations’  full support.

It is when we fail that we have the greatest opportunity to learn. Hopefully this then becomes how the staff empowers the students. Creating young risk takers, innovators, and problem solvers. Simply put, top-down initiatives usually fail to create lasting change. They often fail regardless of the merit or quality of the project. They fail because they lack investors…instead they are viewed as something being done to me not something done by me. The antithesis is staff led initiatives. These are created by, designed for, and taught by your colleagues. Staff led projects or initiatives are more likely to spread and be widely accepted for countless reasons. Least among them, they are usually really – really good! They come from people who are closest to the classroom and designed for the main purpose of helping you do your job better. Will there still be resistance? Sure, but it will be limited. In every group there is at least one person who will say up to your down. Left when you are certain it was right. The majority, however, will see the value in the work.

Wednesday, the District kicked off the start of implementing PLC’s, Professional Learning Communities. As you will see below in the shout-out section, our staff stepped up and knocked it out of the park. The initiative to create authentic PLC’s across our District came from, was designed by, and training was given to the rest of the staff by teachers. This is a perfect example of teacher-led or staff-led leadership. The core group met and spent time planning how best to implement PLC’s. They scheduled time to meet with administration in order to gain support for their idea. I could not be happier with their progress! Great job to all involved. I am very excited to watch the PLC’s grow and hopeful that more teachers & staff will continue to look for opportunities to provide leadership as we pursue the District’s vision. We will be creating the strategic plan in the coming months, this is an ideal place for leaders to lead.

In the spirit of staff lead leadership, here is a special edition of staff shout-outs to colleagues:

"I’d like to give a HUGE Shout Out to the custodial crew at the Senior High School for the job they did clearing snow from the sidewalks after the Nor’Easter on Wednesday. That was some of the heaviest snow I can ever remember and there wasn’t a flake of snow to be found on the sidewalks and walkways to the Trailers when I came in this morning. We were all expecting to have a shortened day due to the storm but the entire crew came together to get the school ready for opening on Thursday.  Matt Bonham, Sarah Brown, Ricky Cordero, Willie Hinton, Carmen Mena, Steve Morris, Amelia Soto, Mike Taylor, Dionicia Vasquez, THANK YOU for all you do!!!!!! I would also like to thank our District Maintenance worker, Jeremy Table, for spending his morning removing remnants of ice and snow from the parking lot also!"
~Dominic Carapelli, Head Custodian

 "Also, I wanted to give a "shout out" to Matt Slater, who ran a "mouse trap" team building activity yesterday as part of our PD. Four of us braved the challenge, and we made a mouse trap tower with 14 stories!! Perhaps a world record! Ha!"
~Cindy Commander, teacher

"A big shout-out to Sandy Grennon for consistent great service and dedication to the students and staff of Millville Public Schools. Throughout the years Sandy has always been a force for positive technology improvements in a variety of buildings. Most recently, Sandy has been the sole source of technology service and support to Lakeside Middle School where she is supporting over 2,000 technology devices, over 1,000 students and over 200 staff members.  Sandy serves as a role model and mentor for other technicians. Sandy was named, by a vote of her peers, the Technician of the Year for 2017-2018."
~Dan Wright, Communications Manager

"Patty Wynn has done an amazing job as the Principal Secretary for LMS. She is instrumental in finding coverages for teachers, working with parents, keeping the school organized and ensuring that I am on task through SAM process."
~Spike Cook, Principal

"Tina Dallas and Theresa Sutton both volunteered to be our PLC building trainers and have done an amazing job.  They both provided a great training to our staff and all of their hard work and preparation was evident by all of the positive feedback from their colleagues."
~Steve Saul, Principal

"Thank you to Margaret Keefer for her organization and hard work in always being available for the High School.  She will always be a part of this family."

"I would like to send a special shout out for the bravery of 3 chaperones from the Senior Trip: Dana Siniavsky, Kelly Hughey, and Amanda Gaunt. They handled a stressing situation with calmness and precision addressing a students needs.  I am so proud of them and honored to have them be a part of our Millville HS Family.  You are amazing guardian angels!"
~Stephanie DeRose, Principal

"Thank you to these phenomenal teachers and leaders: Valerie Archetto, Dana Siniavsky, KT Fouhy, and Tara Cotton! The in-service sessions that you led at the High School were well-presented and informative. Thank you for sharing your talents beyond the classroom!"
~Bridget Borlak, Dept. Chair

"A Bacon shout-out to Paul Lokey, security guard extraordinaire.  Paul welcomes our guests and visitors with a courteous smile and gets them to where they need to be with respect and professionalism.  He works hard to maintain a safe, secure environment, and he doesn’t hesitate to go the extra mile – in any direction – to help anyone in need, even if it is beyond the scope of his regular duties.  Thank you, Paul, for your dedication to our students, staff, and school."
~Mike Coyle, Principal

"Christine Burns and Linda Wittmann did a great job presenting on PLCs on the in-service day."
~Debbie Homan, Supervisor

"Thank you to Christine Burns, Linda Wittmann, Danette Boone and Harry Drew for making Rieck Avenue's workshops on PLCs effective and enjoyable."
~Brian Robinson, Principal

"A BIG shout out to Cindy Ciocco and Jen Shute for taking the lead in our PLC presentation.  They included ice breakers, group work and individual thinking all in one workshop.  Their buy in and encouragement to the staff of the value of PLC's was very helpful towards our work with this district initiative."
~JoAnn Burns, Principal

Have an amazing weekend!

Regards,
Dr. G.
Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001

#MPSWC (MPS World Class)
#greatdaytobeabolt

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

March 2, 2018 - Budgeting Issues

Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash

Hello all,

Hope you are enjoying a wonder Friday despite the less than ideal weather. Today, I just want to share something that is really bugging me. It is that time of year where Mr. Kell, school business administrator, and I are deep into the budget process for next year. What this means for MPS (at least as it has been for the last 8 years that I have had the pleasure of leading) is we anticipate that the State Financial Aid will remain flat – same as the year before. Each year, for the past 8 years, we have seen flat funding – with the exception of last school year where we received flat funding initially, then the State took an additional $860,000 after our budget was prepared and approved. Yes, that happened but I will get back to that in a minute. First, let me spend a little time on what flat funding means for us.

Our annual operating budget is just a bit above a hundred million dollars. Of that, approximately $10 million is provided by the local taxpayers. Easy math, over $90 million comes in the form of State Financial Aid (Federal Aid as well). Within our budget, some 70% is dedicated to 1200 or so employees and their medical benefits. The remaining 30% is used for things like technology, infrastructure, facility care, supplies, athletics and such. Each year, modest salary increases and increases to the cost of health benefits around 2 or 3% results in about an addition 2-3 million dollars. Again, pull out the old calculator and you can see that flat funding coupled with increases in labor costs (regardless of how modest) results in a 2 to 3 million dollar shortfall. Factor in the cost of operations also increasing this deficit can grow. Under the current State guidelines, the District is permitted to raise local taxes by 2% annually without the need for a public vote. This 2% provides an additional $250,000 annually, give or take. Certainly not anywhere near enough to cover the shortfall that exists when flat funding is provided.

A bit of history lesson for those who are not fully aware… The MPS District is a ‘former Abbott’ School District.  Abbott districts are school districts in New Jersey once covered by a series of New Jersey Supreme Court rulings, begun in 1985,[7] that found that the education provided to school children in poor communities was inadequate and unconstitutional and mandated that state funding for these districts be equal to that spent in the wealthiest districts in the state.
The Court in Abbott II[8] and in subsequent rulings,[9] ordered the State to assure that these children receive an adequate education through implementation of certain reforms, including standards-based education supported by parity funding. It include various supplemental programs and school facilities improvements, including to Head Start and early education programs. The Head Start and NAACP were represented by Maxim Thorne as amici curiae in the case.[10] (Source: Wikipedia)

The part of the state constitution that is the basis of the Abbott decisions requires that:

• [t]he Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years.[11] 

• The Abbott designation was formally eliminated in the School Funding Reform Act of 2008, but the designation and special aid were restored in 2011 when the NJ Supreme Court blocked the Christie Administration from making any aid cuts to the Abbott districts while allowing cuts to other districts.[12]

• There is limited evidence that the legal actions have improved student learning outcomes in the Abbott districts.[13]  (Source: Wikipedia) 

Important to address that last bit of information. While the overall research does not show significant improvement in Abbott performance as a result of the funding, our District was cited among a few former Abbott Districts that have made significant improvement (source – Governor Chris Christie’s 2017 Budget Address). Also important to note is that improved student learning outcomes is still comparing the Abbott performance to that of the wealthiest districts. I maintain that the funding simply provides the Abbott District with the basic resource to create a comprehensive budget. Student outcomes among students of poverty must be reviewed against other students of poverty – not as the State does it as they say low socio-economics play no role in student achievement. From someone who has spent his 20 year career in districts in the lower tier of socio-economic status it does make a difference. Growing up in poverty is filled with challenges that the wealthy student never has to consider. Hunger…clean clothing…supplies and resources at home to assist in the education development of the child. There are countless studies that identify the differences, for example students of poverty begin school with a vocabulary that is 2-4 thousand words short of their middle-class classmate.

Now, during the time we were Abbott, we were NOT permitted to raise local taxes at all. For obvious reasons, the State was subsidizing the Abbott Communities to ensure fair funding. So while an Abbott, the local share was frozen. Fast forward to last year when the State decided to take additional money from our budget after it was already board approved. There were 27 Districts total in NJ that had additional money taken from their budgets; in 2018 twenty-four of them received that money back while 3 received their money back in the form of a loan from the State. A loan, for money that was once part of our budget. In fairness, they are not charging interest (that we are aware) but we do have to pay the nearly nine hundred thousand dollars back over the next ten years.

The only reason we have been provided is that it is because our community does not pay its fair share in local taxes! If you have been able to stick with me through this you are probably scratching your head asking huh? MPS was identified by NJ as one of the Abbott Districts, low socio-economic status…and during that time we could not raise local taxes under their rules….and now that Abbott has been removed not by our choice (how that happened is still a mystery as the finding of the court that initially created it has not changed or been overturned to my knowledge)…we are being punished because the local taxes are not high enough?

So year after year, we come together and tighten the belts. We do more with less. We were forced to close an elementary school last year…all to attempt to make flat funding work somehow. For 8 plus years I have been warning the State and anyone who would listen in my budget address that at some point in the future, we simply will not be able to cut any further and still meet the never decreasing demands placed upon NJ School Districts (with countless unfunded mandates). I fear that time may be close.

I remain hopeful that with the new Governor as well as an education commissioner who was a superintendent in a former Abbott District perhaps something will change for the better. I hear all the time about the importance of the ‘children’…now more than ever. The students need to be safe, they need to receive an exceptional education, become college and career ready, we must provide support services to identify signs of mental illness, provide federally mandated special education programs to help our large special needs population (something for which I support 100% - but the reality is it is expensive to provide a full host of services), we must have the latest technology…we must have the best staff…(which we do) but we are not going to provide you with the funding necessary to do that this year. Instead, make do with what we gave you 8 years ago. I am sure the bills in your house have remained the same as they were 8-10 years back right?

Normally, I want the Phenomenal Friday to strictly be positive; to celebrate our staff. However, this is an issue negatively impacting all of us and for that reason, it must be shared. I believe with my entire being that public education is and always has been the best opportunity to give kids a shot at a bright future. MPS District has some of the best staff members anywhere! We must demand that every community, from the wealthiest to the poorest has what they need to provide an exceptional education. We cannot accept that if your parents are fortunate to be able to live in the wealthiest communities you are granted a full and complete set of resources. If however, you are not, well you just have to make do with what you were given more than a decade ago.  I was the first to go to college in my family. My parents both worked extremely hard and made education a priority. Fortunately for me, I attended the MPS District at a different time when funding was not the issue it is today. I am an example of how with hard work you can accomplish your dreams. We must make sure that every student in our community has the same chance! We must provide our world-class staff with the resources of a world-class school district.

Photo by Rene Bernal on Unsplash

Shout-Outs!

"Over the last couple of faculty meetings we have been discussing PLC's all the while diving deep into our student data.  During a recent unannounced visit to their 5th Grade Language Arts PLC Mrs. Silvestri and Mrs. Tapp were using the data that was provided to them to target specific areas in their instruction and plan intervention strategies to help their students meet their targets.  This meeting exemplified what a PLC ought to be.  Outstanding Stuff!!"

"The job of a Principal's secretary is not an easy one, especially for my secretary.  I get pulled, twisted, and stretched in what feels like a million different directions across the day.  Tammy Haley keeps me grounded and focused; she helps make the unmanageable, manageable.  What makes her even more remarkable is that I am pretty sure she does this for almost everyone else in the building as well.  Thank you for all that you do!!"
~Eric Reissek, Principal

 "Congrats to Mike Jones for earning his 100th career win as the Head Coach for the Millville High School Boys Basketball Team this past week. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication to the program!"
~ Dave LaGamba, Supervisor

"Barb Kern is an amazing Social Studies and AVID teacher In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is very dedicated to the Lakeside Student Council. She provides opportunities for the kids to become engaged with the community through service projects. She assists with many activities throughout the school and ensures that kids are recognized for their hard work!"

"Robbie Williams is a positive force in the climate and culture of Lakeside Middle School. He is an innovative Social Studies teacher who is always willing to take risks for his students. He is a mentor to first year teacher, Cody Hand. In addition to his teaching, Robbie is the Co-Athletic Director and Head Wrestling Coach. He coordinates fundraising activities so that his wrestlers have adequate gear. He volunteers his extra time to assist with the 8th grade hallways and is always willing to assist teachers, parents or students!"
~Spike Cook, Principal

"Katie Baralus is our awesome CST case manager at Holly Heights.  Katie has quickly built a positive rapport with both students and staff and is always eager to help.  She will be leaving us soon for her maternity leave and we wish her all the best."
~Steve Saul, Principal

"Heather O'Donnell is always full of positivity in the history hallway of MSHS.  She greets her students at the door each day with a smile and starts each class by saying, "Welcome to another fantastic day of learning!"
~Jessica Kauffman, Dept. Chair

 "A big shout out to Eileen Roche for securing A PRIDE grant for our once upon a recipe night. Diane Cavagnaro and Cindy Tarpine organized the event. Every family who came out last night enjoyed the company of at least one of the teachers in their child's room. 100% of our classrooms were represented by a staff member. Each teacher and aide selected a book for their class and followed a rebus recipe that went along with their book . The halls came alive with families sampling their child's creation. Also special thanks to Millville Day Care staff and their families for joining us in this event."
~JoAnn Burns, Principal

"Margaret Keefer took some of the high school students to Lakeside to give a Bullying presentation.  The Lakeside students were engaged and very receptive.  Congrats on a meaningful, well-done presentation!"
~Henry Hartman, Supervisor

"A special shout out to Dan Caregnato!!! Dan has been working so hard to become a Master teacher, learning each day from his peers and students.  Being a retired State Trooper he had a very different skill set prior to this job.  He has truly impressed everyone with his development as a teacher.  From writing tickets and reports to now writing curriculum .  Dan also offers a helping hand at the HS and is willing to assist in any way needed.  He is often someone’s hero !  Thanks Dan!"

"I would like to give a big shout out to Tori Smith from Memorial HS.  She has transformed the food service department and works hard to make the meals nutritional and great for the staff and students. Keep up the great work!!"
~Stephanie DeRose, Principal

"When the flu struck the Bacon front office and our awesome secretaries were down and out, Karen McCafferty volunteered to cover our office.  Thanks to her help, Bacon didn't miss a step and the show went on.  Thanks Karen for being willing to come spend the day with us!  We appreciate it."
~Mike Coyle, Principal

Have a great weekend!
Regards,

Dr. G.
Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001

#MPSWC (MPS World Class)
#greatdaytobeabolt

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

February 23, 2018

Photo by Gianandrea Villa on Unsplash

Hello,

Wednesday’s weather was certainly a nice change to remind us that winter will not last forever. For me, that is one of the best parts of living in NJ. The change of seasons provides variety and there are benefits to each season. The beach or pool in the summer, watching a baseball or softball game on a beautiful spring afternoon, or a football or soccer game under the lights on a crisp fall Friday, or the occasional snow day – or rather sledding in the winter. If we did not experience four very distinctly different seasonal changes it would be difficult to experience all of the different activities each season brings.

Currently, the climate (unrelated to weather) is that of a collective empathy for the victims and families of the Parkland shooting. I dare say beyond empathy, there are a variety of other emotions surfacing loudly. Outrage and anger, fear and worry, pessimism and optimism are battling it out, and I would hope some happiness. Happiness for the survivors, for the stories of heroism, for the memories of those taken too soon.

I want to focus on fear and worry today. Just for a moment. I can feel these emotions loudly from our staff, our students, and our parents. In the wake of tragedies which cannot be explained or rationalized there is always a period of fear, worry, outrage, blame while the national spotlight is brightly shining on the  vulnerability of a very precious resource, our kids! Sadly, historically this eventually fades after an indiscriminate amount of time. During that time we watch the news channels go 24/7 with every possible angle and element involving the horrific incident. Early on while we want to turn away to protect ourselves from a feeling of helplessness and fear but we don’t. Immediately after there is a moment where everyone is aligned with a collective determination to 'fix it’. ‘It’ being the senseless loss of life. Politicians weigh in and it inevitably boils down to ‘gun control’ or ‘2nd amendment freedoms’. I want to be clear, I am not in anyway advocating in either direction right now.

Instead, I want to point out that while the debate ensues about whether or not it is too easy to own a gun, and schools are pointed at for not being able to keep their students safe, and fingers are directed at mental illness and agencies who oversee treatment, it all builds to a pitch that forces most to finally give in and look away. This happens at different stages for each person and some (those directly effected) may never be able to look away again. Ultimately, there are always lessons learned and passed along to school officials. Please remember, school officials are parents too, we are husbands and wives and none of us want to ‘let’ anything bad happen to our communities. Remember, we are only human. We are unable to safeguard our school community alone. We work to create plans of action that are informed by law enforcement best practices and lessons learned from tragedy survivors, and from security consultants. We implement, practice, and believe our plans to be our best way to safeguard our schools. In addition, we really need all of you to work with us to help. Blame, second-guessing, rumors, gossiping, and other devicive behaviors only serve to weaken our collective resolve to prevent violence of any kind being visited on our campuses.

Let me address some of the concerns or rumors that I have heard so far while also explaining a bit about what we are currently doing to keep all of us safe. First, I hear often that something happened at one of our schools and school officials have done nothing about it. Worse yet, why haven’t they told us all about the details of the incident? To respond, we take every single report of violence seriously. Due to federal student confidentiality laws we cannot simply discuss any issue in detail or items that may impact the investigations. We have a duty to protect all students including any student accused of misbehavior. If your child is involved you will know about it. You will have all the information you need to work with us in order to assist your child.

All students are capable of making bad decisions, while it may be frustrating to not know all of the details when someone else’s child made the mistake it should also be comforting to know that if it were your child we would protect their privacy as well. We will inform the masses only when it is appropriate. As you can imagine, students sometimes say things in anger or to gain attention. We investigate these incidents thoroughly to determine the level of threat involved. We work collaboratively with the local police department and prosecutor’s office. In some cases, it is determined that a student simply made a poor decision but does not have any actual plan to harm anyone. The police will often visit the home during the investigation as well. Following the investigation a consequence may be applied which is also confidential. Sometimes you may not directly know what consequence was given and therefore want to assume ‘the school didn’t do anything’. Again I ask that you consider both sides of this coin, while you may want to know what specific consequence or punishment was given to someone else’s child you would likely not want us disclosing the outcome of incidents involving your own child. Please give us the benefit of the doubt and trust we have addressed it. If however, you still have concerns contact your school Principal.

If we work together there is little we cannot accomplish. Staff, students, and parents of MPS – we are all on the same team. If you see or hear something, report it. If you have concerns or questions please ask the school official assigned to care for your child(ren). Staff members work with the school and district administration to improve our safety procedures. This means pointing out areas for improvement but more importantly it means bringing feasible solution ideas to the table as well.

So far, our school staff and students have done an exceptional job preparing for all types of emergencies. You should all be very proud of the efficient responses to various incidents you have taught to our students.

* We are exploring adding ALICE training to our response. Feel free to research it and stay tuned for opportunities to be an early adopter in the training.



Shout-outs!
"A big Bacon shout out to Beth Rohaly and Meganne Peck for putting together the Chinese New Year parade last week.  It was a great, arts-infused, multi-cultural event in which the students had fun and learned about the traditions of celebrating the Chinese New Year.  Thank you ladies for all your hard work in pulling it off and getting the whole school involved."
~Mike Coyle, Principal

 "A big Holly Heights shout out to Jackie Olivio.  Jackie not only does an excellent job with our 2nd grade students but also serves as coordinator for our Club 21.  She puts in many late nights and plans activities that keep our students actively engaged.  We appreciate all of your hard work Jackie!"
~Steve Saul, Principal

 "A Mount Pleasant shout out to Miriam Gandy, our super star kitchen aide. Miriam has held this job faithfully for 17 years, and has near perfect attendance. Our students have told her many times, "You make the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the planet". Thank you Miriam for your dedication!"
~Arlene Jenkins, Principal

"Thanks to Monica Panichelli and Kyle Drake for organizing Rieck Avenue's Jump Rope for Heart last Friday. Our students raised $2,000 for the American Heart Association. Monica and Kyle continue Rieck Avenue's culture of helping students think beyond themselves to help others. Jet Pride in action."
~Brian Robinson, Principal

"A huge shout-out to our Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade  curriculum writers. This year we are creating interdisciplinary units that will remove the arbitrary divisions between teaching reading and social studies separate from one another as if they were separate bodies of knowledge. The integration of these two subjects will help students better integrate strategies from their studies into the larger world.  Thank you for your hard work...Carolyn Munzenmayer, Jen Finch, Joann Cuff, Theresa Russo, Sandi Gery, Kelli Blough, Ashleigh Udalovas, Kara Lunemann, Staci Clark, Nina Crain, Jackie Olivio, Lisa Baran, Betty Lou Williams, Kim Taylor, and Kristina Messina."
~Maggie Colina, Supervisor

"John Bunting is a very dedicated guidance counselor at Lakeside Middle School. He is very flexible with our needs during the school day and is always willing to volunteer to help.  He makes sure that students have breakfast, meets with students individually and in groups."

"Dena Andrews recently performed at Carnegie Hall with her signing group Continuo Arts Foundation."
~Spike Cook, Principal


Regards,

Have an amazing weekend!

Dr. G.
Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001

#MPSWC (MPS World Class)
#greatdaytobeabolt

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

February 16, 2018

Photo by Jacob Stone on Unsplash

Hello,

This week our Country has been forced to face yet another tragedy. The senseless destruction of 17 lives – can bring even the strongest person to their knees. I do not know how to make sense of terror like that which struck the Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. I feel there is only one action that any of us can take to honor the loss and sadness effecting that community – and that is to celebrate each other loudly and often.

Let this serve as a reminder that life is unpredictable…do not wait for tomorrow to apologize to a loved one or friend that you wronged today. Do not put off telling those that matter most to you how you feel about them. Do not take a second of this precious gift of life for granted. In moments like this I can’t help but reflect on those times where I fell into the rut routine of taking life for granted…sleep – wake – work – complain – repeat! It is so easy to think things like “ugh, I hate Mondays…or I can’t wait until the weekend”.

I am confident that each and every single one of the 17 victims would give anything to have one more Monday with those they cared about. So seize each second of every single day of your life for the amazing gift that it is. Treat your loved ones well.


Shout-outs!

"A big shout out to our Holly Heights Kindergarten team for making the 100th Day and Valentine's Day a special event for our students.  Students celebrated with super hero capes and pictures of themselves if they were 100 years old.  Thank you for making the day a memorable one for our students."
-Steve Saul, Principal

 "A HUGE thankyou to Cindy Tarpine and Kathy Parent who Completed the arduous task of Grow NJ Kids Rating application. They had to gather and aggregate the data as well as meet with the state representatives to secure this project. All the while still completing their daily responsibilities at CFC."
-JoAnn Burns, Principal

 "Erika Zeiters and Andrea Dixon were chosen to the play the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City through the Atlantic Pops. When asked how you get to play Carnegie, Erika said, "Practice, Practice, Practice."
-Spike Cook, Principal and Henry Hartman, Supervisor

"Lida Stroup's class at Lakeside was chosen to participate in a Moby Maz challenge. They improved significantly in Math and Language Arts. As a result of their hard work, Moby Max donated over $1,000.00 worth of prizes to the classroom."
-Spike Cook, Principal

"Ashley Renshaw took on the role of Health Service Coordinator this year in addition to her nursing responsibilities at Holly Heights.  I truly appreciate the time and effort Ashley puts into this position. She has been instrumental in assisting other nurses and students throughout the District with unique and often difficult situations. Her professionalism is evident in meetings and conferences with our school physicians and sometimes our attorneys.  I have come to rely on Ashley for her expertise and guidance in the area of health care.  I thank you, Ashley, for your continued willingness to research and investigate all concerns brought to your attention. If she does not have an answer, she finds one.  I'm sure this position sometimes feels like a thankless position.  Please know that your time and dedication to the District does not go unnoticed."
-Donna Meyers, Asst. Superintendent

"Congratulations x 1,000,000 to Peter Arsenault, CST case manager at Memorial High School, who was awarded his Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology yesterday!!!!! What a proud moment!!!"
-Nora Zielinski, Executive Director

 "Andrea Pfeiffer brings her therapy dog Maddie to the school twice a week!! The students love Maddie! Thanks so much Maddie for being a Bolt!!"
-Steve Matusz, Vice Principal

"Charlotte Richardson did a great job facilitating articulation among the elementary Autism and Multiple Disabilities teachers on the recent PD day.  The teachers involved gave a lot of positive feedback on their opportunity to work and learn together."
-Debbie Homan, Supervisor

"Shawn Jenkins & Gerald Bruman hosted a VEX Robotics Competition last Saturday at the Senior High with approximately 30 teams as a fundraiser for our Robotics team to be able to attend the State competition and hopefully advance to Nationals. It was a tremendous amount or work planning and preparing for such a huge event. It was their first time, yet everything ran smoothly!"

"Aaron Righter, Mary Talio, and Janet Ponzetti gave up their entire Saturday to help Gerald & Shawn with the Robotics Competition. Aaron assisted with initial size registration and Interview Judging. Janet assisted with initial size registration and Notebook evaluation, while her daughter assisted with Check-in. Mary assisted as the concessions clerk. A huge thank you for supporting our students in such a big way."
-Stacey Musey, Dept. Chair

"Kim O'Neill ran a Jump Rope for Heart event at Bacon Elementary today to help raise funds for heart disease research and education, while promoting physical activity. Thanks Kim!!"

"Kyle Drake and Monica Panichelli ran a Jump Rope for Heart event at Rieck Avenue today to help raise funds for heart disease research and education, while promoting physical activity. Thanks Kyle and Monica!!"
-Dave LaGamba, Supervisor

"Congratulations to Judy Tymkiw! Hard work and perseverance have paid off, as she has been selected to be a contestant on JEOPARDY's-The Teacher's Tournament! The show will air on national TV in early May. Best of Luck-Judy!"
-Maggie Colina, Supervisor


This week’s Phenomenal Friday is dedicated to the victims and the community of Parkland, Florida. On behalf of the entire Millville Public School Community, we offer our heartfelt condolences for comfort for the families and friends of the victims:

• Alyssa Alhadeff, 14 years old – student
• Scott Beigel, 35 years old – geography teacher, and saved lives during the shooting
• Martin Duque Anguiano, 14 years old – student 
• Nicholas Dworet, 17 years old – student 
• Aaron Feis, 37 years old – assistant football coach, said to be running towards gunfire to help students
• Jaime Guttenberg, 14 years old – student 
• Chris Hixon, 49 years old – athletic director
• Luke Hoyer, 15 years old – student 
• Cara Loughran, 14 years old – student 
• Gina Montalto, 14 years old – student 
• Joaquin Oliver, 17 years old – student 
• Alaina Petty, 14 years old – student 
• Meadow Pollack, 18 years old – student 
• Helena Ramsay, 17 years old – student 
• Alex Schachter, 14 years old – student 
• Carmen Schentrup, 16 years old – student 
• Peter Wang, 15 years old – student 

Regards,

Dr. G.

Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001

#MPSWC (MPS World Class)
#greatdaytobeabolt

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

February 9, 2018

LMS's Lisa Oquendo organized a successful SOUPer Bowl! 

Hello all,

Happy Friday and Post-Superbowl Win for all of the Eagles fans. This weeks is Counselors Week, therefore I would like to thank and highlight their efforts on behalf of our students and families. We all know the power a kind word, a stern word from someone you trust, and simply an ear to listen when things are not going according to our plan can have in terms of making life better. That, in a very very short summary, is what Counselors do everyday for our students. By extension, they often become the guidepost for the families as well. Connecting the student and parent to resources when needed or by going great lengths when tragedy strikes one of our families. I can only imagine how difficult it is to take all of the confidential sorrows, worries, and anxieties of those in their care and then transition home to their own families who need them. It is truly a special person that is able to balance that. It is with that in mind that we thank you for all that you give to those around you.

*February 15th (Lakeside Cafeteria / doors open 6pm) STRATEGIC PLANNING culminating session. You are welcome to attend regardless of whether you attended any of the other meetings. Students are welcome….

SHOUT-OUTS
"Mrs. Stoerrle is a three year old teacher in our preschool program. She has always been willing to take on a new adventure in learning in our building. She works very hard to make a connection with the parents. She organizes, attends and runs our Car Seat program. This involves an evening presentation with parents by the Sherriff's department and then scheduling and attending the evening when the car seats are installed. She also organizes and attends the Pet Show at the Child Family Center as well as getting donations for the SPCA. She works hard to get parental involvement in her classroom and attends most family events in our school throughout the year."
JoAnn Burns

"Margaret and Beth did an awesome job with the 8th grade science and social studies classes helping integrate critical reading and citing textual evidence into those courses. They researched lessons related to the courses and taught classes all day in the DMC of 50 students. Thank you!"
Bobby Barber

"Thanks to a great 7th grade Social Studies team who have worked above and beyond to complete curriculum, implement at mid-year, and do so with a take charge attitude and sense of humor. During one of their writing sessions you could find the team dressed in period character to get into the proper mind set. It is great to work with a team who finds solutions when the task can feel overwhelming."
Pat Wulk

"Lisa Oquendo did a great job with coordinating the Souper Bowl at Lakeside Middle School. We had over 75 staff members attend and raised over 150 dollars! This event was a huge opportunity for staff to share their culinary skills and for us to spend quality time together."
Spike Cook

"Chris and Eileen embody world class. They always have a positive attitude with everything that they do. I have heard them spend 20 minutes on the phone with a parent walking them step-by-step through the process to sign up for infinite campus. I have watched them call other departments to get information just so a parent doesn’t have to make another phone call. They easily manage and support everything the curriculum floor needs. Thank you Chris and Eileen for your customer service and your support of the district mission."
Pamm Moore

"Special thanks to Matt Sheppard, IT professional, for setting aside his morning schedule to provide expedited service to one of our severely autistic students who cannot live without his iPad.  Matt prepared a "swap" device for the student to use while his own iPad was updated.  Even so, the student's parent had to hold onto him to keep him from chasing Matt down the hall.  In less than an hour, the student's iPad was ready for him.  That's world-class service!"
Nora Zielinski

"Rieck Avenue School's fifth grade team were exceptional at helping our students get ready for the Millville Women's Club 2nd Annual Spelling Bee. We had more participants this year than last and students were really willing to step out of their comfort zone. This is due to the preparation and encouragement of our team. Judy Bonato organized the Bee for the Women's Club and because of her attention to detail, everything ran smoothly. We have three students moving on to the next Bee!"
Brian Robinson

'Silver Run's transition to a more inclusive teaching practice for our students is in its second year. The Third Grade team of Mrs. Kinsey and Mrs Barse are a testament to it's success as just this week I received feedback from a parent about the exceptional job the pair are doing with her son. Mrs. Kinsey and Mrs. Barse we are grateful for your hard work and dedication. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job!!"

"A big thank you to Steph, Cheryl, & Justin for going above and beyond in supporting our students. No matter the time of year, come rain, snow, or sunshine these individuals are seemingly always there to support our students and our school. Thank you for your help at our Pizza Bingo Night. You are very much appreciated and valued!"
Eric Reissek

"A big Holly Heights shout out to Andy Bingham. Andy has inspired his students with creative lessons in his 1st year as a teacher of Art. His students are currently assisting in taking apart old computers and turning them into beautiful works of Art. He also has embraced STEAM with his students and frequently incorporates additional subject content into his Art lessons."
Steve Saul

"I would like to celebrate all of our school counselors for school counselors week. Their kindness and dedication is amazing."
Stephanie DeRose

"A Bacon Bears shout-out to Nancy Gandy, Bacon's Teacher-of-the-Year. Nancy works hard to create engaging and creative lessons, and she embraces the view that all students can learn, period. Her positive approach to teaching is awesome. She believes in her students, and they know it – and that mindset is contagious. Thank you, Nancy!"
Mike Coyle

"I would like to send a special shout out to Aaron Righter for looking for new and innovative ways to inspire our students. He has started the online announcements at Memorial and is working with the students in computer programming with the Rasperry Pies! Great Job Aaron!"
Stephanie DeRose

"I would like to recognize Ms. Michele Horin who is a science teacher at the Senior High School. She works late to create the best lessons for her students and tries new things even when they are unfamiliar to her. Therefore, her lessons are interactive, challenging, and entertaining for her students. Ms. Horin makes herself available to her students both before and after school to provide tutoring or other resources based on her students' needs. Michele Horin is the epitome of dedication."
Kristin McManus

"A huge shout out to Dominic Carapelli for his professionalism and patience when dealing with all of the challenges we face with the new construction and planning. He is truly a member of the team at the Senior High and is valued in so many ways."
Stephanie DeRose

"This week I would like to recognize Bobby Barber Jr. I want to recognize the energy he is bringing to the District’s Math and Science Programs. Many of you may not recall his time as our high school math teacher where he took every students’ performance personally. He would push, mentor, push some more, stay after or have the students come in early, whatever it takes to make sure his students performed at their peak ability level. It is this same unwillingness to accept less than your best attitude he brings towards his two content areas. Yesterday, he invited me to see an elementary teacher in action who he felt was exceptional – his judgement was spot on. Keep up the outstanding work!"
Dr. Gentile

Have a great weekend!
Dr. G.

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

February 2, 2018

Photo by tof Mayanoff on Unsplash

Hello all,

“E A G L E S – Eagles!” For many of us brought up to have two favorite football teams, the Bolts (of course) and the Birds, this weekend marks the culmination of a lot of mixed emotions. Round here, when someone asks who your favorite NFL team is you proudly say the Eagles (and you inwardly gear up to defend them if needed, especially in those years where they are struggling. Let’s be honest, there have been lots of those years. If you meet people outside of the area and the Birds are brought into the conversation, you are told about how bad the fans are…inevitably someone has to mention the time when Santa Claus was pelted by a stadium of snowballs (that Santa had it coming right?). Once every naysayer has their moment, the one thing they can’t take away from us is our passion, loyalty, and dedication.

While It is ok for a fellow fan to point out their shortcomings, Lord help anyone outside the family do it. I can’t help but think of our work family in a similar way. You may give your colleague a good ribbing from time to time, but let someone outside of Millville Family talk badly about one of us and they will regret it. It is the shared experiences day in and day out that build the bond among a community. For the Eagles Fan Family, it is the many close losses, the times where a field goal goes wide…etc…that make this moment on the largest stage in the NFL so sweet. It is also the day to day hard-work, dedication, and passion for our students that make us all so very protective of our District. The times where the Department of Education highlights our State Assessment scores for not quite measuring up that make me so defensive to any outsiders who want to criticize the MPS. It is because I know a student’s value is much – much more than a standardized test score in math or language arts; they are so very much more!

They are their dreams, their passions, and their innovative ideas…You cannot measure the value of a child easily. Moving forward, I want to start implementing practices that mirror the belief that standardized tests are only a piece of what we do. I want to give teachers and students the freedom to connect to their passions, time to innovate, create opportunities to make the World around them better for real people through Project Based Learning Experiences.

We need to start shifting what we do in school to better match the likely future our students will face, instead of the future we faced. We must help students think like entrepreneurs. So, how do we do that? Glad you asked… we look to those schools that are already doing it. For example, Don Wettrick a teacher in Noblesville, Indiana – his students are making big differences around the Globe. Interested in learning more check out www.startedupinnovation.com for some amazing examples of what his students have accomplished. The first small step Don suggests is to incorporate the ‘rule of thirds’. First, are you (student) inspired by the project? Second, (teacher and student together) what skills/standard will be developed/learned if you pursue the project?

And third, who will the project serve other than yourself? Getting students and teachers to create projects and experiences that are tied to the standards but are also tied to the students’ passion are key. Too often we create great students who are great at being students. More specifically, they are great at stacking their GPA’s. They seek to ask the teacher, “ok, what is it you want me to know and do and how exactly do you want me to present that?” And when these same students are asked to think critically and creatively, or as an innovator or entrepreneur they are paralyzed. Some grow frustrated and say ‘just tell me what you want’. I would like to continue discussing this and ideas that can push us to rethink our current system with you.

For now, Go Birds!!!!

Shout Outs!

"Super shout out to super specials teachers Cindy Commander, Matt Slater, and Andrea Dixon for organizing our Super Bowl Pep Rally. We have our own cheer, dancers, acrobats, boom wackers, dog masks, pom-poms and doggie bone cookies, made by our cafeteria staff. Whether you are an Eagle’s fan or not, what a wonderful way to end the week!"
~ Arlene Jenkins

"Congratulations to Jason Kessler for earning his 100th career win as the Millville High School Girls Basketball Coach last Sunday night. Jason has done a great job developing the program over the last 10 years."
~ Dave LaGamba

"Sarah Fryling did an awesome job sharing how she utilizes guided math in her classroom.  She shared quick, easy to use tools and she offered to help other teachers they begin their implementation."
~ Pamm Moore

"Beth Benfer did an amazing job with the School Improvement Session for Lakeside teachers at the January Professional Development Day. She implemented a new strategy she learned at the Strategic Planning session to ensure everyone's voice was heard. In addition, she is going to follow up with this for any staff who missed the PD due to being at another workshop."
~ Spike Cook

"Kim Hallenbeck has worked tirelessly with staff to improve the Master Schedule each year. She has met with teachers and administrators to improve areas for next year. She is always seeking ways to do what is best for our students."
~ Spike Cook

"Matt Daniels has always been a proponent for the arts.  He continues that outside of school with teaching at the Barn Studio of Art and sitting on the Boards for the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts and the Barn Studio.  Thanks for all you do for our students in and out of the classroom!"
~ Henry Hartman

"Samantha Catlett has done a great job since coming to Bacon this year. She has seamlessly transitioned into her role as a 5th grade teacher, and she works well with her students to provide quality instruction.  She also collaborates well with her colleagues.  Sam was a Bear from day one!"
~ Mike Coyle

"Lisa Langlois does an amazing job as our receptionist.  She is the first face that students, parents and staff see when they enter the building and is always ready to provide assistance.  She does an outstanding job of making everyone feel welcome.  Thank you Lisa!"
~ Steve Saul

"Thank you, Derek Clarke, for your work on the Holly Ball. It was a great event! Also, Derek, thank you for always sharing a kind word or a affirmative thought. Your positive attitude is truly appreciated. Thank you!"
~ Bridget Borlak

"Congratulations to Lida Stroup and her class at Lakeside Middle School. Lida’s class has be selected to participate in an exciting and challenging program through MobyMax.  Her students are committed to putting in the required hours every week and tracking their success.  Lida demonstrates her commitment to the success of all students by offering her assistance to other teachers and advocating for students. Thank you for all that you do!"
~ Maris Lynn

"Thank you, Val Archetto and Raffael Craig, for your flexibility and willingness to do what is best for our students. When we had Resource Rooms that needed to be filled, you accepted the challenge without question. Your teamwork and positive attitude are greatly appreciated!"
~ Jessica Kauffman

Published by Dr. Spike Cook, Millville, NJ