March 29, 2019

Stella and her supportive family 

Good afternoon,

Special Shout-out::

I want to recognize and wish Mr. Bryce Kell the best as today is his last day of work. While his official final day is a short bit away, he begins a vacation that will lead into his retirement. I want to thank him for his many years of service as school business administrator to the Millville community. Some misinformed folks, jokingly gave him the bad reputation for always saying “no” when the question involves spending the district’s money.

The truth is whenever we have wanted to do something that benefits the students of the District he is always happy to help find a way. He had the very difficult job of overseeing the ever restricted budgets based on reduced funding from the NJ Department of Education. Over the past nine years, he and I have worked closely to try to manage the impact of State flat funding. As I have shared before flat funding typically has meant the need to reduce spending in some part of the budget to the tune of approximately $3 million annually. This year he was able to find a way to reduce eliminating positions. He has been a true professional and careful start of the District’s money. He will be deeply missed. He has had the opportunity to work closely with his replacement, Mr. Richard Davidson and recently told me we are in good hands. After 25 years of service to the Millville Public School system, he has earned the rest. May he spend long lazy days on either his sailboat or on the links. Please join me in wishing him the best in retirement.

Student Shout-out:

I would like to recognize Stella Sheppard who is currently an 8th grader at Lakeside Middle School. She was the District’s 8th grade representative for the NJSBA county 8th Grade Dialogue Dinner. Along with representatives from all of the Cumberland County schools she responded to a series of questions designed to get the point of view of our students on their education so far. She did an excellent job representing MPS. Please give her a round of applause wherever you find yourself reading this!

Shout-outs:
"Sandy Gery, Jessica Andreoli, Maria Jones, Lauren Morris, Barb Lore, Jenn Anton, Lisa Digiorgio, and Kim Taylor opened their classrooms to groups of 7 district administrators and a trainer from Eureka Math to help support our implementation of the Eureka program. They allowed 8 adults to come in and observe a math lesson after only teaching the program for just under 7 months. Their fearlessness and their students' ability to stay on task was truly impressive. I'm excited to see the student outcomes over the next few years now that we have put a high-quality, rigorous curriculum in the hands of outstanding teachers like these. Thank you so much, ladies!"
~ Bobby Barber, Supervisor

"Shout-out to our 4th grade team of Samantha Catlett, Stacey Gant, and Nancy Gandy for setting and modeling expectations for their students during a recent trip (and every day). The students’ behavior was complimented by those at the location, and that reflects the time and effort you three put into molding our Bears to be safe, responsible, and respectful citizens of our community. Great job!"

"I'd also like to echo Bobby Barber's shout-out to Barb Lore, Jenn Anton, Lisa Digiorgio, and Kim Taylor for their willingness to have a group of administrators check on our progress with Eureka. Your openness to have your lessons observed for the purpose of getting better at what we do is awesome. Thank you!"
~ Mike Coyle, Principal

"Shout out to Maggie Colina for leading, organizing and administering the ACCESS Assessment for our English Language Learners. A lot of hard work, preparation and attention to detail is required to get everything into place. Thank you for making sure our students have a positive testing environment."
~ Pamm Moore, Asst. Supt.

"Shout-out to Brittany Straczinski for putting together an excellent Primary Concert at Rieck Avenue! Go Jets!!!"
~ Danette Boone, Vice Principal

"Special thanks to Wick at MSHS for his dedication to our students with special needs. His proactive approach to building positive relationships and setting high expectations has a tremendous impact on our kids’ lives. He also works with staff and the child study team to help mentor some of our students."
~ Steve Matusz, Exec. Director Special Services

"A special shout out to Emily Barlas, Charlotte Richardson, Amanda Wichnick, Sam Corda, and Mallori Higbee on preparing and being ready for the upcoming DLM (Dynamic Learning Maps) state testing which starts next week. Your attention to details, scheduling, and encouragement of the students is appreciated. Thank you!"
~ Vanessa Strassner, Supervisor

"A Silver Run shout out goes out to the Social Committee & PTO for organizing a month long read-a-thon here at Silver Run. The read-a-thon culminated in a door decorating contest in which students shared a message about their favorite book and/or author. Thank you to all the classrooms who participated!!"
~ Eric Reissek, Principal

"A BIG shout out to Christine Caraballo and Maria Stoerrle for all of their hard work and time spent on the organization of the PET SHOW at CFC . We had snakes, and dogs and cats and turtles, rabbits, bearded dragons, tarantulas, my favorite, the stuffed animals and many more animals as well as a reading corner (about pet books), a veterinarian office, art activities and even "Kibble and Bits" for all of the participants. They walked the Red Carpet and received their medal! Again thanks to the two organizers and all the staff who joined them in the evening for this wonderful family event."
~ JoAnn Burns, Principal

"To all of our district music teachers who have once again helped us get the designation for Millville to be one of the "Best Communities in Music Education" by the National Association for Music Merchants. This is a great distinction and is not possible without all of your efforts!"
~ Henry Hartman, Supervisor

Have a wonderful weekend!!
Regards,

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 22, 2019

Lakeside Students at the Jazz Concert 

Good afternoon,

I hope this windy Friday is going great for you. We have a lot of people this week for recognition. March is marching by rapidly and hopefully Spring is poised to take over. Not sure about you, but I have had enough cold and blustery mornings for this School Year. I am ready for sunshine and warm afternoons watching our Bolts’ athletic teams compete. The Winter Sports season concluded and was a big success. I can’t wait to see what the Spring season will bring. For now, however, do not put away the jacket just yet. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Shout-outs!

"Use this link to enjoy some of the action from last night’s showcase hosted by Holly Heights. I was impressed by all involved." Student Learning & Technology Showcase pictures

"A special shout out to Emily Barlas and Holly Ruscica for the Spring Fling event that they created for their classrooms. Students, parents, teachers, and staff interacted through station work which included make and take activities, crafts, and opportunities for the students to socialize in a positive way. Thank you to all the staff that made the interactions a special one, and highlighted for parents how much their child could accomplish."
~ Vanessa Strassner, Supervisor



"Nina Crain, Kristina Messina, Amy Fabianovicz, Dr. Denise Cooper, Sarah Fryling, Amanda DeVita, and Linda Santiago did an amazing job working as a team writing our new K-5 Science Curriculum from scratch. Their knowledge, energy, and willingness to work together has paid off in a curriculum that will provide our students with opportunities to engage with the world around them. Thank you all!"
~Bobby Barber, Supervisor

"Thanks to Chef McCarthy and his Culinary Arts students for a tasty lunch during the Memorial Reality Faire. Much appreciated!"
~ Bridget Borlak, Dept. Chair


"Special thanks to April Pang and Amy Whilden for their hard work on our first Millville's Got Talent. It was one of the best events of the year showcasing all of the students amazing talent."

"To Victor Nappen and his team for his dedication to saving lives in sponsoring our Blood Drive at the High School. He is getting more and more creative each year and is motivating everyone around him to give blood."

"A shout out to Pete Arsenault!! Pete is such a positive force in our school community. He is selfless and a true advocate for students."

"To the security team at Memorial. You all were amazing in a not so amazing week. Thank you for your patience and empathy with our students when they are having a bad day. You’re a great team!"
~ Stephanie DeRose, Principal

"Congratulations to Boys Basketball Head Coach - Mike Jones for being selected as Coach of the Year. Mike will be honored at a banquet in Atlantic City on March 30, 2019."

"Thank you to Olivia Orlandini, Stacy Descalzi and Victor Nappen for coordinating the annual Spring Blood Drive this past Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at MSHS. It takes countless hours to coordinate and run a successful blood drive. This past blood drive was very successful in collecting 101 pints of blood which equates to saving 303 lives. It’s truly appreciated all the time and effort they put in to making our blood drives successful, while supporting the community. Once again, thanks Olivia, Stacy and Victor!!"
~ Dave LaGamba, Supervisor/Athletic Director

"Shout out goes out to Nina Crain for her St. Patrick's Day Celebration! The celebration checked off all the boxes. It included a STEAM Activity that brought so much fun and excitement the students may not have even realized they were learning. Love the energy! Nice job!!"
~ Eric Reissek, Principal

"Congrats to our district art teachers for assembling a fantastic art show at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts gallery. The exhibit will be up through April 12th."
~ Henry Hartman, Supervisor

"I want to thank the following staff members for presenting at the District Technology Showcase: Teale Carroll, Justin Dodge, Jennifer Salvati, Tiffany Lind, Lisa Guadio and Samantha Clarke. Thank you for representing Lakeside Middle School!" '
~ Spike Cook, Principal

"A huge shout out to Vanessa Strassner. Vanessa joined our team this year and has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our students. Her expertise and dedication have been inspiring."
~ Pamm Moore, Asst. Supt.

"Special thanks to Emily Barlas, Holly Ruscica, Christine Armington, Claudia Erwin, and Charlotte Phillips for putting together a " Spring Fling" for their students and families. You could feel the positive classroom dynamics and the love they have for their students and families. The celebration was well organized, personalized, informative, and well run as a team."
~ Steve Matusz, Exec. Director Special Services

"JoAnne Colacurcio, Lauren Daigle and Alicia Discepola for organizing a great Technology Showcase this week. It was great to see a sampling of the ways technology is getting used across the district." 

"Steve Matusz, Dave LaGamba, Heidi Fisler and Coach Dennis Thomas for setting up a mentoring program with Rieck Avenue's SLD students. What an inspiration to see our Thunderbolt Football players giving back to our students. Just another example of why Millville Public Schools are World Class!"
~ Brian Robinson, Principal

"Shout out to the amazing staff (and students) who participated in last night’s Student Learning and Technology Showcase - Richard Andres, Becky Benson, Tim Bermudez, Colleen Blithe, Gerald Bruman, Janine Burpulis, Michael Canino, Robin Carman, Teale Carroll, Samantha Catlett, Brandi Cesari, Samantha Clarke, Derek Clarke, Matt Daniels, Kelly Davis, Michael Dobrosky, Justin Dodge, Sarah Fryling, Nancy Gandy, Lisa Gaudio, Cheryl Ismail, David Kahn, Tiffany Lind, James McCarthy, Kristina Messina, April Pang, Aaron Righter, Jennifer Salvati, Sandra Sivieri, Lois Smaniotto, Rebecca Tobolski, and Richard VanArsdale. The MPS community enjoyed the display of exciting courses, engaging activities, interactive projects, and more. This annual event showcases some of the wonderful things happening in our district. We value your support and commitment and were thrilled to have you be a part of this year’s successful showcase.
~ Joanne Colacurcio, Supervisor


"A Big Shout out to our LEAP Teachers for continually opening up their classrooms to visitors from various schools who are interested in seeing full inclusion at its best! Many times this is with very short notice. They often are asked to meet with and be observed by staff from other districts and are viewed as leaders in the preschool world of Special Education. Special thanks to: Diane Cavagnaro, Jane Hibschmna, Lindsay Hudson, Donna Makos, Lori O'Toole, Ginger Wheeler, Denise Wright!" 
~ JoAnn Burns, Principal

"I want to recognize Laura Shepherd along with her entire department for all their hard-work this year. Registration and transportation are two key functions that help our District strive for World Class. For our new parents, the registration and transportation staff are the first people they meet. Our staff in registration/transportation strives to make a great first impression. Well done-
~ David Gentile, Superintendent

Have a wonderful weekend!

Regards,

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

Phenomenal Friday: March Madness Edition

March is Gifted and Talented Month in NJ 

Good afternoon all,

Looking for an inexpensive Friday evening destination? Look no further, tonight at 7pm the Lakeside Middle School is hosting “Millville’s Got Talent”. Come out and support our high school students as they showcase their many talents in their quest to receive the magic ticket to Hollywood, or well not actually Hollywood, but they are going to showcase their talent and it will be fun. Hollywood is not in this year’s budget unfortunately. Our students are simply amazing and the show is sure to be spectacular. 

March is Gifted & Talented month in New Jersey. You may not have known that, I actually did not until I received amazing letters from the Lakeside Middle School Gifted and Talented students. They each took the time to write a letter to my attention thanking me for supporting their program. Each letter was outlined with what the program meant to them and how it had a positive impact on their young lives. I wanted to take a moment and return the favor by thanking them publicly as well, along with their teacher Mrs. Gaudio. Maintaining the District Gifted & Talented Program has been a priority of central administration and the Millville Board of Education. The rationale behind that in part is because we have countless resources allocated to provide intervention for students who are struggling or who exhibit unfavorable behavior while in school. The academic intervention programs and positive behavioral supports are of critical importance. The students who show up everyday and do everything that is asked of them, the students who love school and want to be challenged though are sometimes overlooked. Students in crisis or exhibiting poor behavior need to be helped immediately. The students who are quietly doing everything that is asked of them may simply go unnoticed. This is why a program like our "G & T” is so valuable. It is designed for those students who are excelling in the regular instructional programs. It gives them unique opportunities to be challenged, to learn and collaborate with other students with similar interests. It is with this in mind that I shout-out “Happy G&T month” to all of the students and staff involved. Keep up the amazing work.

Shout-outs!
"Congratulations to Rafael Craig for being selected by the South Jersey Track Coaches Association as Coach of the Year for Winter Track. This past season Rafael’s Winter Track team won a Sectional Team Championship and State Team Relay Championship."
~ Dave LaGamba, Supervisor

"Shout out to Amanda DeVita, Kelly Bingham, Nancy Gandy, Stacey Gant, Samantha Catlett, and Stephanie Muhlbaier for having open minds and positive outlooks on new PD we'll be doing. Your willingness to continue learning and growing is awesome. I'm looking forward to you and our Bears reaping the benefits of your hard work and dedication."
~ Mike Coyle, Principal

"Special shout out to our Parent Engagement PLC for a wonderful sing-along. The PLC members: Sharon Dondero, Linda Felmey, Jamie Mingin, Moira Rhubart, Laura Sabatano, Cindy Tarpine and Denise Wright have diligently been increasing parent engagement throughout the year. This was just one of many avenues they used to reach out to parents. A super special shout out to Chris Taylor who led the activity in song and movement!!"
~ JoAnn Burns, Principal

"Thank you to Janet Todd and Dana Sinaivsky for sharing your expertise with our Rowan student teachers as you work with them throughout their practicum, Thank you for opening your classrooms to them and sharing your knowledge and experience."
~ Bridget Borlak, Dept. Chair

"Dennis Thomas and Heidi Fisler have teamed up to create a " Big Brother Thunderbolt" program where some of our student athletes at MSHS on the football and track teams will visit Reick Ave every Friday to mentor Heidi's students and help them with their school work. Awesome!!"
~ Steve Matusz, Exec. Director Special Services

"A Holly Heights shout out to Laura Kane, Sarah Fryling, Maria Vai, and Tina Dallas for organizing a March Madness basketball fun night for our students. Students participated in various basketball games with their parents and had a great night. Thanks to everyone for providing this opportunity for our families." 
~ Steve Saul, Principal

"A Silver Run shout goes out to all our staff members participating in our monthly committee meetings. It is great seeing and hearing all the wonderful work being done. Together we are making Silver Run a better place to work, learn, and grow! Great Job!!" 

"A well-deserved shout out goes out to the 4th grade team of Lauren Adams, Jen Defeo, Cheryl Ismail, and Linda Santiago for their leadership. On Thursday we welcomed parents and guardians to Silver Run where they had the pleasure of hearing our students present on individuals who were influential in America during the Civil Rights Movement. This was a great learning experience for all who participated!"
~ Eric Reissek, Principal

"To Lisa Glynn, Sandra Padro, Nadya McLaughlin, Jason Harrington and Howard Raudenbush for helping to cover positions due to extended leaves and keeping the curriculum moving forward."
~ Henry Hartman, Supervisor

"Thank you to Lisa Guadio for coordinating a very special National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony! Thank you for your dedication to the kids and parents!!!!"

"Thank you to Alicia Discepola and Lauren Daigle for organizing a very effective Digital Learning Day."
~Spike Cook, Principal

"Some people quietly go about their work without drawing attention to themselves. The RtI team at Silver is a prime example. Jen Dragotta, Mindy Fralick, Kathy Drastal, and Stephanie Upham work with back to back groups during their entire day. I saw them meeting the needs of 32 first graders in the span of one hour. Thank you for helping our students!"

"I had the chance to be a guest judge for a debate conducted in two of Krystal Ammann's Honors World History classes this week. These students were able to articulate their arguments, present rebuttals, and offer compelling conclusions. Thank you Krystal for all you do for your students!"
~ Pat Wulk, Supervisor

"Thank you to Kristina Hulitt, Brittany Bracaliello, Amanda Gaunt, Henry Hartman and Katharine Thompson for chaperoning the Senior Class Trip. Initially I was very concerned about being on this trip, but your hard work and diligence made the experience enjoyable for all. Thank you for making my first experience chaperoning an easy one." 
~ Jason Kessler, Vice Principal

Have a fantastic weekend!

Regards,

Dr. G.

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

March 8, 2019

The Phenomenal Friday Blog is dedicated to highlighting the contributions of the Millville Public School Employees.

"Big Bacon Bear shout-outs to Kathleen Pedrick and Candy Devich. Both ladies give their all for our students, and they exemplify hard work and dedication within their respective roles. These ladies are student-focused with everything they do, and they deeply care for our Bears. Thank you both for being wonderful members of our Bacon family."
~ Mike Coyle, Principal

A big shout out to Dena Andrews and Megan Bellucci for their hard work in making Beauty and the Beast a resounding success at Lakeside Middle School."
~ Spike Cook, Principal

"Great examples of teaching are evident every day in our district. I had a chance to notice several this past week. First, Amy Gehringer and Darlene Bassetti had their students research and create projects for their unit on Ancient Egypt. These two put in countless hours in the classroom and of their own time to make this museum come to life for their students and guests. The projects were truly amazing and the students were able to share their vast knowledge on their topics of study. Next, I accidentally stumbled on some fraction lines on the floor at Holly Heights. When I asked about them I was told to go see the fourth grade hallway and the rest of Sarah Fryling's creations. I found full size models of fraction bars and a hopscotch board made of fractions. Ms. Fryling uses these to have kids create fractional equivalents as part of their game or simple walk the model to find equivalent fractions. Great use of kinesthetic learning."
~ Pat Wulk, Supervisor

"Bacon school would like to give a great big shout out to our PBIS aide Kim Berry. She goes above and beyond to make our Bears respectful learners. She has implemented attendance activities to encourage a full classroom, check in and check out to keep students on task with behavior, and exciting activities to celebrate the great things our Bears accomplish. At the end of the day a loud gong can be heard echoing through the hallways upstairs. This is a wonderful sound because we know a Bacon Bear has met his or her behavior goal. Aside from all of this we appreciate her ability to handle a disagreement or drama among students so that we can do our jobs in the classroom. Thank you Kim Berry for all that you do for Bacon School."
~ Bacon Staff

"Shout out to Ashley Bartholomew for providing students with real-time collaboration and immediate feedback on their writing stories. Throughout the lesson, Mrs. Bartholomew was not only working with the four students in the Writing Center but also with students across the room with comments and feedback on their stories using shared Google Docs. Students were collaborating and sharing their ideas with Mrs. Bartholomew throughout the entire lesson.'

"Thank you Tina Hulitt and Becky Benson for providing 21 students from the Millville High School the opportunity to go on the Junior Achievement Field Trip to Stockton University in Atlantic City. Students were collaborating and sharing throughout the day with students from Vineland High School, Gateway High School, Stockton students and volunteers from local businesses. The interactive day helped students develop the necessary skills to achieve career success. The day focused on the Four Cs - Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity. Students were also given a tour of the new Stockton Academic Building and the oceanfront building for residential living that are small apartments rather than dorms. This was a great experience for our students!!"
~ Joanne Colacurcio, Supervisor

"A big shout out to Tracy Parr and our maintenance staff who work so diligently to serve the students and staff at Silver Run. Each morning we return to work with the hallways clear and our rooms cleaned. Thank you!"

"A Silver Run shout out to Doris Hall and our cafeteria staff. Your awesomeness does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you!!"
~ Eric Reissek, Principal

"A BIG shout out at CFC. The first is to Joann Abbamonte, Winnie Hammell, Kim Sergiacomi, Patty Owens, Lorraine Butcher, Moira Rhubart, Sam Kenney, and Jaime White for working on the PDP and holding a family Literacy and Routines Night for their classes. Families gathered in their pajamas and joined their teachers for an evening of reading, crafts, food and fun. What a great message to send to our families."
~ JoAnn Burns, Principal

"Special thanks to all of the I&RS Coordinators who took the time to meet and begin the process of creating a District I&RS Handbook. I appreciate your time, enthusiasm, and experience in making this a true collaborative process- Kristin Fasolino, Val Phillips, Tina Benishek, Vanessa Strassner, Nilsa Acosta, John Bunting, Amy Scull, Anthony Procopio, Leigh Ann Upshaw, Dr. Pete, and Ashley Sorantino. Have a great weekend!!"

"The staff at the Thunderbolt Academy continue to do an excellent job working with 85 of our students. They have an open mindset when it comes to receiving feedback and moving the program in alignment with district goals and initiatives. They work very closely with the CST to make sure all of our educational expectations are met for our students. If you have never checked out the Academy they have an open door policy. Special shout out to Mr. Payne, Mr. Ashton, Mr. Drew, and all of their teachers and staff. Thank you for all of your efforts in working with our students, supporting district goals, working with families, and networking in the community."
~ Steve Matusz, Exec. Director Special Services

Regards,

Dr. G.

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

March 1, 2019

Happy Friday to you all!

This has been a truly special week.  Below are just a few of the amazing things that took place across the district.

• We began the week honoring our Educational Service Professionals and Teachers of the Year at our board meeting.  We had a packed house and it was truly an honor to celebrate with the Board, community and families.
• Jungle John Visited Bacon school for Read Across America Week. The children had a great time listening to the books he brought to read.  
• We had a wonderful Digital Day of learning on Thursday!  Thank you so much to everyone who facilitated a session, set up a session, or watched a session.  Having everyone working together as a team was powerful! The general focus of #DLDay was on innovative technology usage in the classroom.  If you missed any of the sessions, you can watch them at your leisure at this link Millville Digital Day of Learning.

 The fun continues this weekend with the following exciting events:

• Lakeside’s play Beauty and the Beast on Friday and Saturday night.
• Millville’s Boy’s Basketball team is playing in the South Jersey Group 4 Semifinals today at 4 PM.
• Diana Johnson, Millville’s first female wrestler to win a regional championship, will be wrestling tonight and tomorrow in the NJSIAA State Tournament.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend. Make sure you take a few minutes for yourself this week to recharge and renew! 
Dr. Pamm Moore 

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

February 22, 2019

The Phenomenal Friday Blog is dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Millville Public School Employees.

"A JETS shout out to Christine Burns, Julia Araujo, Carmen Moreno and Jackie Brescia for running our JET FUEL Cafe each week on Wednesday mornings. This has been a great opportunity for our students in their classes to learn about commerce, sales, keeping records and all the mathematics involved. Plus it's keeping the staff happy and fed well!"
~  Brian Robinson, Principal

"A BIG Shout out to Edwin Fien. Mr. Fien has always been diligent about monitoring his student's attendance. He is taking it to a new level this year and seeing some success with an improvement in tardies and absences. He used Mrs. Barlas' "Gentle Nudge" suggestion from the staff meeting. He sends out friendly success texts through REMIND celebrating days when he has 100% attendance. He celebrates all children being on time and "gently nudges" when it is close to 100%. "Almost made it today only 2 late or 2 absent." He continually thanks parents for making the extra effort and takes quarterly photo's with certificates for 100% attendance. He has done home visits to encourage attendance and to try and assist if the problem can result from some kind of change. We appreciate the extra effort!"

-JoAnn Burns, Principal

"A well-deserved shout-out goes out to Kelli Blough for being a leader in her classroom. Kelli leaves no stone unturned when it comes to helping our students succeed. Whether dealing with behavior or leading a lesson Kelli always has the best interest of our students at heart! Thank you for all that you do in making your classroom and Silver Run a special place."

"A massive Silver Run Shout-out goes out to Stephanie Trull for her quick thinking, fleet of foot action that prevented a student from being seriously injured last week. In a moment’s notice you put the safety of our students first and for that we are grateful. Thank you!!!"
~Eric Reissek, Principal

"A big thank you to Terri Whilden in the Business Office for all of her support and follow through. She is a great resource!"
~Spike Cook Principal

"A big Bacon Bears shout-out to all the staff members who came out to Chick-fil-A this week for the fundraiser. Thanks for hanging out, supporting the school, and being the dedicated educators you are. In particular, thanks to Barb Lore and Candy Devich who stayed the whole time and helped organize the event."

"Another Bacon shout-out to the participants of our biggest loser contest. Nice job promoting healthy living and eating within the school. A big thanks to Nurse Pruett for organizing the effort. Way to go, Bears!"
~ Mike Coyle, Principal

Have a great weekend
Dr. G.

Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ

February 15, 2019: Self Aware Edition

Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash

Good Afternoon,

In February’s AASA School Administrator publication, one article about the others jumped out. After reading it, I was compelled to share my thoughts and takeaways relative to our beloved community. The title, “Compassion in the Face of Trauma; A school system’s backing of children who are depressed, deprived and anxious may not be at first glance consistent with the ‘feel good’ theme associated with the Phenomenal Friday message, but bare with me as I hope you can see it as I do. This publication reaches a global audience of educators but as I read about the Anaheim Union High School District in Anaheim California, I thought, “yes, us too”. Although on the other side of the United States, the number of students experiencing depression, homelessness, anxiety, poverty is on the rise, like here in NJ. A growing number of students’ families are experiencing the despair of being homeless. Uncertain about where the next meal will come from. Additionally, students growing up in poverty are told by many well-intending adults “if  you simply work hard you become anything you want”. This over simplification can cause damage without additional messaging and supports from a caring learning community. I am not interested in debating the issue at this time, yes technically speaking it is possible to achieve dreams through hard work, dedication, and grit. I am a supporter of growth-mind-set and therefore you do not have to take issue with me on the benefits of the great American dream. I came from a family where my sister and I were the first to reach the university. Both of us now hold doctoral degrees and benefits by improving our quality of life through education, work, and determination. I merely want to share that simply repeating “work hard and you can become anything you want” alone is not effective.


That stated, for a growing number of our students the competing hardships that too often lead to mental health issues is too daunting to simply “work hard”. I am a kid advocate at my core. I simply want every student regardless of the parents they choose, to have equitable access to high quality education, social emotional supports, and high quality professionals to help shape their path. We must acknowledge a few truths. Truth number one, your socio-economic status influences your opportunities. Truth two, growing up in poverty may make your path more difficult.  (*but growing up with a lot of money, just enough money, some money may make your path more difficult). Everyone’s journey is potentially difficult. Third and most important, we must all become more self aware, emotionally intelligent, and skilled at helping others navigate the hardships of life. When I went to school as a young person, the things that happened at home that were troubling me stayed at home. Almost like a switch, we were expected to put our best self forward without excuse. This was a time when teachers and school administrators were right even if they were wrong. Educators of this era were not expected to be able to help navigate a complete emotional breakdown by a student on a regular basis. Educators did not focus on becoming culturally competent so they can better identify their own prejudices and preconceptions of those that are different. Instead, the student was expected to conform and follow the rules. The teacher taught and if the student wanted to learn great, if not…oh well. Today, if the students are not achieving we look to the teacher. Two very clear and linear paths, college or a trade, existed for the earlier generations. Employment in each path was not only possible, it was likely. Today, there are countless graduates with large debt and few prospects. There are over 7 million jobs available in the US as of July 2018. There are over 4 million Americans identified as unemployed. I told you this was a positive story remember… there are more jobs available when compared to the number of unemployed so that is encouraging.

Why is this so? That is the question that keeps me up at night. I would guess some of those out of work are experiencing currently or have experienced some type of mental health event at some point in their formative years. I would further guess that they did not receive high quality care that helped them recover and grow from the experience. Thus they are left unemployable.

Today’s students are experiencing stress and pressure that they are ill prepared to handle alone. According to a study by Renee Goodwin, a professor at Columbia University on depression found it on the rise among 12 thru 17 year olds. Increased from 8.7% of adolescents reporting depression in 2005 to 13% in 2015. Most disturbing, depression among our kids is most common among those with the least access to any health care, including mental health professionals. Students growing up in poverty are most vulnerable but depression can strike students of means as well. The number strongest risk factor for suicide is untreated depression among adolescents. Students raised by adults who lack education or employment are also likely to have their own untreated mental health issues are at risk to struggle.

Now, again back to why this is actually a positive story…In this California district, they are implementing ‘self-awareness training’. They are training their staff to implement compassionate, caring and self-aware strategies. They are teaching them to help students bring emotions out into the open and working through them. Their focus is on breaking students away from their default responses to negative emotional stressors and ‘reprogramming’ them to respond in a mindful manner. Helping students learn to hit the pause button and recognize their emotions before simply acting. Their training began with their administrative teams then throughout the student body. With a renewed focus on how to be more mindful in their interactions with others, on social media, in healthy friendships, exercise and healthy diets they are seeing a major decline in the students identifying as depressed. An unintended consequence is in that the staff also indicated feelings of improved wellness. They describe students who previously ‘exploded’ with negative emotions succeeding in ways previously un-imagined. This is a positive story because here in #MPSWC we are on a very similar journey together relative to social emotional learning. The various workshops led by our very own instructional coaches, I.e. Building puppets, as been a priceless beginning of providing a much more emotionally safe environment for our children. Students at the high end of achievement are benefiting as well. Students who have a drive and compulsion to succeed and achieve the highest GPA’s, or get into the University of their choosing, are also at risk for depression – and/ or anxiety disorders. The fact is simply, we all benefit from being more in touch with our emotional wellness. If we simply wait for their to be high quality mental health care access for all with magic solutions, we will most certainly become disheartened with disappointment. Instead, let us all work to be each others mental health supporters.

Be positive, be kind, be aware of your words and actions as they have power-

Have a great weekend everyone, recharge the batteries and enjoy the 3 day weekend!

SHOUT-OUTS
"A Bacon Bears shout out to Stephanie Muhlbaier and Kim O'Neill for running an excellent Jump Rope for Heart. This was our biggest Jump Rope fundraiser yet! Thank you both for your dedication and hard work."
~ Mike Coyle, Principal

"Melissa Castor is tremendous asset to our students and families at Lakeside. She is always looking for ways to get involved to help in our vision of providing the best education opportunities for students and staff. She recently attended Nurtured Heart Training and is part of the Crisis Response Team. She stepped up this school year and volunteered to case manage the BD class at Lakeside and the Thunderbolt Academy. Thanks Melissa for your dedication and positive approach to all of the issues our students and district are facing."
~ Steve Matusz, Exec. Director Special Services

"Thank you, Sandra Padro, for being so helpful. Sandra has been assisting our long-term substitute and continues to create materials that incorporate all modalities of communication. Her efforts are appreciated. ¡Gracias, querida señora!"
~ Bridget Borlak, Dept. Chair

"A Silver Run shoutout goes out to Shannon Nevico, Jennifer Defeo, Lisa Baran, Nina Crain, Amy Kimmel, and Tara Tapp for getting their students involved in the Valentine's for Veterans Project! Thank you for teaching our students to appreciate, acknowledge, and respect our veterans. Thank you for teaching our students gratitude!!!"
~ Eric Reissek, Principal

"A big Holly Heights shout out to Megan Rhubart. Megan has built a warm and caring classroom environment and built a positive relationship with each of her students. Megan's attentiveness to her students allowed her to identify a student that had developed a significant medical concern. We are fortunate to have Megan on our staff."
~ Steve Saul, Principal

"Here's a shout out to Doug Saul and Hollie Smith at Holly Heights. Doug has been pushing in to support Hollie's 1st grade class during Guided Reading this year and their teamwork is incredible. During the first year of implementation, Doug is able to support Hollie's work with 75% of her students on a daily basis. Their work is definitely going to pay off for those students."
~ Bobby Barber, Supervisor

"State testing is a huge event in the district and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes prior testing even starting. I would like to send a huge thank you to Camille Howard, Trish Curcuru, Kristen Fasolino, Amy Scull, Debbie Stowman, Arlene Jenkins, Valerie Cross, Kim Hallenbeck, Zach Wurcel and Kristin McManus for the countless hours they put in to make testing successful!!!!"
~ Pat Wulk, Supervisor

" A huge shout out to Dave Kahn and his law enforcement class for taking the initiative in creating classroom door ties for our safety and security plan. Not only did they make one for each classroom, but the students will be training the staff on its use. Having a retired law enforcement officer instructing our students has been amazing. Keep up the good work!"
~ Stephanie DeRose, Principal

"A BIG Shout Out to Casey Wilson and Sharon Wright for their continued support for all of the special education children in our building. They give hours of support to the children and their teachers to be sure the IEP is being implemented and the goals are being worked on and attained."
~ JoAnn Burns, Principal

Have a tremendous 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