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| Olympic Day 2018 |
On this beautiful Friday before Memorial Day Weekend we are nearing the conclusion of the 41st Annual Olympic Day at Wheaton Field. A big thank you to all involved with the countless moving parts involved with such a complex undertaking. The High School students in Leaders Club or marching band or of the various ‘courts’ all lent their support to making today special for all of the participants. Thank you to all of the staff that played a part in making today’s Olympic Events epic for the kids participating.
I like to think that just for a moment, all of us who had the opportunity to participate in the Games as a student here in Millville get to once again look around during the event and see the world through the eyes of a 4th grader – or a Kindergarten student student watching the parade for the first time. As a child, anything is possible. This simple truth is one of the parts of being a kid that I miss most. As a child, you felt as though you could literally do anything you wanted to…with effort, work, and a little magic. Although as you get older you start to realize that maybe ‘anything’ is a bit of a stretch. You may not actually be able to fly through the sky like superman or superwoman; but you could build a rocket-ship from couch cushions, blankets, and some imagination that would let you imagine or pretend to fly. The living room space rocket the basis for a future career in NASA, or so my neighbor tells of his origin story. Today he is literally a rocket scientist all because he spent hours imagining his couch had thrusters.
This feeling of pretending is something that we grow out of and too easily dismiss as child’s play. Perhaps we don’t ever fully grow out of it but instead we bury it under the everyday pressures and reality of failing to achieve our prior dreams. How depressing that would be to give up on the version of yourself you have envisioned so many times. Giving into blaming others or by believing the ‘game’ is rigged against you instead of achieving that life goal. See, I believe pretending, or imagining, or dreaming about what could be is at the heart of all of us. It is essential to innovation and making the world around us better. Do not bury it, embrace it - feed it! Try to make the World around you better somehow - try to make yourself better! Be kinder, be a better listener, a better friend, a better co-worker…Learn that instrument you always dreamed of but didn’t give yourself the time to explore. Give yourself permission to fail – not permission – celebrate your failures as the learning opportunities they are.
I hope today, you are reminded of that feeling you once had as a child having some grand adventure in your living room or competing in the “Olympics” also known to us here in Millville NJ as Olympic Day. A day of friendly competition and good–sportsmanship. A day to cheer on your classmates, friends, and peers in events that challenge you both physically and mentally to do what may have previously felt impossible; to run further than you believed you could during a relay race, or to throw a soft–ball, to long–jump and fly over the sand…all on the World’s Stage, or so it felt like the World was watching when a younger early version of me proudly wore his Bacon Bear T–Shirt down High Street.
SHOUT-OUTS
"This year we had many new hires come into the district. Some had never taught before and others had been teaching in other districts across the state. When the PD specialist asked the group to share something good about their year, several of the new hires voiced how supported they felt at their individual schools and by the district. Humberto Ayala, a Physical Education teacher at Holly, stated that before he came to Millville he had considered giving up teaching all together. He thought about going back to college for another degree. This veteran teacher has now found his home here at MPS and is enjoying the profession he was first called to. He and many others are wonderful additions to our MPS family."
~Margaret Keefer, PD Specialist
"Debby Sukinik and the special education teachers & CST members at Memorial did an outstanding job on Tuesday night during the transition night for incoming freshmen. They were friendly, caring and helped the incoming students and parents feel calmer about the transition to high school. Thank you for taking the time for this important work."
~Brian Robinson, Principal
"Ish Jimenez and Scott Godfrey took on the additional responsibilities of the 8th grade during PARCC. They are always flexible and willing to step in to make LMS better. I am very grateful for their leadership at LMS!"
~Spike Cook, Principal
"Amanda DeVita, Kim Berry, Amy Scull, Bobby Drewnowski, Samantha Catlett, Stephanie Muhlbaier, Patti Banker, Paul Lokey, Tracy Oniszczuk, Pat Wulk, Frank Lowers. A huge shout out and thank you to this fine group of people for their help and participation in yesterday’s Guinness world record attempt. This is especially meaningful to me because I was unexpectedly out yesterday, and they stepped up and got the job done. Way to go!"
~Mike Coyle, Principal
"Dawn Dolan, Danielle Tombleson, Lee Cox, Melody Raudenbush, Stephanie Trull, Gary Guadalupe, Tom Moore The self contained BD classes at Silver Run have really achieved greatness this year! All of the students in Mrs. Dolan's and Mrs. Tombleson's classes have gained 1 year in reading growth based on their F&P assessments. 100% of their students! Now that is impressive...great work team!!! "
~Steve Matusz, Executive Director & Gena Pacitto, School Psychologist
"Hats off to Ariana Rosenberg for organizing our first Mount Pleasant Spelling Bee Championship Tournament. A wonderful time was had by all. Great job students!"
"Natalie Thom, Cindy Fullerton, Kerri Geissel A special shout-out to these three caring educators. They went above and beyond the call of duty and their daily work schedule to assist a family in crisis. Thank you for all you do every day!"
~Arlene Jenkins, Principal
"Congratulations to Bacon, Lakeside, Memorial and MSHS for helping to set the Guinness World Record for the largest Health Lesson. This was done through the Rotary Club and it included schools from every district in Cumberland County.
~Pamm Moore, Asst. Superintendent
Have an amazing Memorial Day 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
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