Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Superintendent (Volume 5, Issue 6, March - April 2008)

Closing the School Calendar for 2007-2008 ... Early dismissals... Middle School graduations ... High School graduations ... Thank You   ... to the Entire Middletown Community for supporting our schools and passing the budget for the 2008-2009 School Year! ... Challenger Hockey ...  On Saturday, April 26, 2008, Hockey In Middletown will be sponsoring its second “Challenger” event to be held at the Red Bank Armory. ... Quality Single Accountability System (OSAC) ... On November 20, 2008, the Middletown District will undergo its first, comprehensive, on-site monitoring through the NJ State Department of Education’s QSAC process. ... Special Recognition ... Congratulations to the following outstanding educators selected for The Governor’s Teacher Recognition / Educational Services Professionals Program. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Superintendent (Volume 5, Issue 5, February 2008)

Models of Instruction that Support Literacy ... With the implementation of LEADS (Literacy is Essential to Adolescent Development and Success) in the district’s three middle schools, Middletown is moving forward toward its goal of increasing the rigor and elevance of instruction for all students ... The elementary component to the LEADS model is called IDEAL, which focuses on the critical issue of the early literacy acquisition of young children. ... Improving the District's World Language Program  ... On The 2008-09 proposed World Language delivery model in the elementary schools will be aligned with the core curriculum and articulated through the grade levels in order to improve its effectiveness. ... Gifted and Talented Education Through the Grades ...  The delivery of instruction for gifted and talented students fits perfectly into the IDEAL and LEADS models of instruction. Services for gifted and talented students can now be connected into the core curriculum through full articulation from grades Kindergarten through twelve. ... Pilot Provisional Drivers Program ... The Middletown School District is currently offering GDL (Graduated Drivers License) stickers to any parent of a GDL student who would like to voluntarily participate in this program. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Superintendent (Volume 5, Issue 4, January 2008)

ALUMNI VISITS ...During the first week of January, when college students are home on semester break, it is the tradition in both our high schools to invite our alumni back for panel discussions with our current seniors. ... February 5th — In-Service Day for Teachers  On Tuesday, February 5th, the Middletown Schools will be closed for another full day in-service training, which will continue to move our educational initiatives forward. Most of the workshops will be a continuation of the ones held on October 22nd. ...School Funding Formula ...  Governor Corzine’s School Funding Formula begins on the right foot with an increase of $550 million dollars in state aid to New Jersey’s schools. ... Fundraiser for HSN Student  ... On October 6th Lindsay Capatasto, HSN student, was a victim of a horrible car accident that tragically took the life of her friend, Dana Centanni. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Interim Superintendent (Volume 5, Issue 3, November / December 2007)

Fall Plays ...High School South’s play, "God’s Favorite", ...The High School North Play, "Lend Me a Tenor", ... experience our students’ performances in the Fall and Spring plays. ... PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE TOWNSHIP   The School District has a representative ... Ms. Kathy Sidoti, Principal of Leonardo School ...that sits on the Middletown Public Library Advisory Board ...USING ASSESSMENT DATA INFORM INSTRUCTION ...  For the first time, District Administrators are able to electronically obtain and organize state assessment data for individual students into configurations that can be transmitted to teachers according to their schedules in the secondary schools. ... Now with “Ed-Analyzer” the data analysis function of NJ SMART, ... allows ... information at our teachers’ fingertips ... to make informed decisions about skills students need to learn and will help teachers identify students who need to be further challenged as well as supported with interventions. ... LEARNIA  ... Our district has the opportunity to participate in this exciting project by invitation of the NJ State Department of Education, sponsored by Mr. Fred Carrigg, our District Director of Humanities K-12, this year. ... Middletown Arts Center  ... Free Photography Exhibit. ... November 9—December 2, 2007 ... INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRESS  ... With all the talk over the past year about instructional change, what can students and parents actually expect to see happening in our classrooms? ... “Tiered Instruction” is the centerpiece of the LEADS initiative. ... Joetta Beaver, author of the DRA, comes to Middletown  ... On November 30th, Middletown Schools will be visited by the author of the most widely used, formative assessment of reading, “The Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)”. ... Welcome New District Administrators  ... Mr. David Healy, current Assistant Principal for Discipline at High School North, will replace Mr. John Russo as Assistant Superintendent for Operations/Personnel of January, 2008. High School North Mathematics teacher, Mr. Kevin Robinson, will replace Mr. Healy the new Assistant Principal at High School North. ... A warm welcome is wished for our new Principal of Lincroft Elementary School. Mr. Luigi Laugelli comes to us from our neighboring Long Branch District, ... A Fond Farewell  ... After 28 years of service in the District, my confidential secretary, Mrs. Renate Mey, will be retiring ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Interim Superintendent (Volume 5, Issue 2, October 2007)

THE STRATEGIC PLAN—In the Context of Administrative Change ... The importance of having a Strategic Plan in place in a large and dynamic school district like Middletown is that it safeguards progress toward the district’s goals regardless of administrative change. ...Our Assistant Superintendent, John Russo, who has only been with us for a year, has recently been appointed to the Superintendency in our neighboring district, Tinton Falls. ...Dr. Michaele McKenna, Principal of Lincroft Elementary School, has announced her retirement as of December 1, 2007. Dr. McKenna has dedicated her professional career to Middletown Schools since 1978 ... STAFF IN-SERVICE DAY—OCTOBER 22ND, 2007   District Philosophy of Instruction ...Elementary classroom teachers will be taking their second full day of training on the Writing Workshop, our major, new literacy initiative, ... Middle School teachers of Language Arts, Science and Social Studies will be furthering their knowledge in the LEADS initiative [Literacy is Essential to Adolescent Development and Success] ...Middle school and high school teachers of mathematics will be together on the in-service day to articulate goals and methodology from the middle school “Connected Math” Program into the high school. ...Teachers of the Arts K-12 will have a wonderful opportunity to take their professional development day at the Middletown Arts Center. ...Some of our high school elective teachers will spend some of their professional development day on a visit to another school district or business location where their subject area is applied in an authentic context. ...Physical Education and Health teachers across the grade levels and buildings will rotate through a menu of workshops on health and well-being ...Carbo Recorded Book Training ...  On Monday, September 24, 2007, more than 100 staff members had the benefit of a full day of training on the Carbo Recorded Book Method. ... Carbo Recorded Books are authentic literature recorded at a slow, natural pace to help struggling readers improve and advanced readers excel. PROMOTING GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AT ATHLETIC EVENTS  ... Spectators at athletic events need to emulate the same “good sportsmanship” conduct that we expect and are obtaining from our student athletes. -- and more. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Interim Superintendent (Volume 5, Issue 1, September 2007)

WELCOME BACK ... OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS NOW ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE! ... ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES FOR 2007-08...  We wish a fond farewell to Dr. Ilene Skolnik, District Director of Assessment and Special projects. ...A warm welcome is extended to (Dr. Ilene Skolnik's] replacement, Dr. Sandra Reid, ...With our appreciation to the River Plaza Community for giving up their much-loved principal, Marie Hartnett has moved into the position District Director of Curriculum K-12 for Math and Science. We are happy to announce that River Plaza School has a new principal. Ms. Linda Pesce is a long-time employee of our neighboring district, Colts Neck, ...Middletown is thrilled to have the expertise of Mr. Fred Carrigg as our District Director of Curriculum K-12 for the Humanities ... IMPORTANT ADDITIONS TO OUR MIDDLETOWN PROFESSIONAL STAFF...  As promised during the budget awareness campaign, Middletown has added staff to reduce class size and improve student services... MORE TECHNOLOGY TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS...  Last school year we made significant progress toward implementing our Five-Year Technology Plan. ... IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FACILITIES...  ... Over the summer, many improvements were made to our facilities that will enhance the learning environment in our classrooms. ... DISTRICT CURRICULUM PHILOSOPHY...  As we embark on a new school year, we see a new district philosophy of curriculum and instruction taking hold across all subject areas and grade levels. -- and more. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Acting Superintendent (Volume 4, Issue 8, May/June 2007)

Strategic Plan 07-08 ... We are reviewing our Strategic Plan and selecting the goals and activities that will be the focus of our work for the 2007-08 school year. ... Summer Hiring  We are in the process of interviewing and hiring, as per our proposals for the 2007-08 budget, ... Summer Programs  Two important programs will extend and enhance the learning of many of the district’s students this summer. ... Support for Thorne  Over the course of this year, the Central Administration has been working with the Thorne Middle School Administrators, Teachers, Guidance Counselors and Child Study Team members to develop a program for the 2007-08 school year that will support some students at Thorne who need a more specialized program. ... Curriculum Guides ... This semester, six assistant principals and directors worked with approximately eighty middle school and high school teachers in writing or revising thirty-two new curriculum guides. ... “Dare to Dream”  At the three middle schools, eighth grade students were visited by high school upper classmen who told their stories of the challenges and successes they experienced throughout their high school careers. ... Student Interns  The goal of most high school student intern programs is to teach. At the Avaya Lincroft, N.J. site, the goal is that -- and more. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Acting Superintendent (Volume 4, Issue 7, April 2007)

SPRING MUSICALS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS ... Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Spring Musicals in the high schools. ... WRITER’S WORKSHOP  With the current year’s HELP Aid funds, the District’s Curriculum Office has recently purchased materials to support the teaching of process writing in Grades K-5. ... MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM LIBRARIES  Continuing our literacy initiative, we are awaiting the arrival of books from Barnes & Noble to create middle school classroom libraries for all our middle school Language Arts classes. ... Carbo Recorded Books Grant  The Middletown Education Foundation has awarded the district with the largest grant in the foundation’s history. ... A JOB WELL DONE! ... [to] our parents, students, teaching staff, paraprofessionals and especially our building principals and assistant principals ... R E M E M B E R T O V O T E! Budget Vote, April 17th, 4:00-9:00 P.M.  Every vote counts. Last year, our budget failed by such a small margin that only eight additional votes per school would have changed the whole picture. The failure resulted in increased class size in the middle schools after 1.4 million dollars was cut from the budget. ... CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2006-2007 MIDDLETOWN TEACHERS OF THE YEAR!  ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Acting Superintendent (Volume 4, Issue 6, February 2007)

School Budget Vote ... The voting for the school budget will take place on Tuesday, April 17th from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. ... TEST SCORES IN THE PRESS  About two weeks ago, the Asbury Park Press published their analysis of HSPA, SAT and NJ ASK 4 scores from the 05-06 School Year. ... TESTING TIME AGAIN!  It’s that time of year again to begin our testing program. ... Township Ordinance to Curb Underage Drinking  The School District congratulates the Township on its proposed ordinance that will give law enforcement officers greater authority to prosecute under-aged drinking on private property, ... New Electives Bring Exciting Coursework to High School Students ... Mock Trial Class ... SAT Prep ... Rock History & Pop Culture ... Forensic Science ... Advanced Placement Electives ... Grant for Autism Services  Autism services will receive a great boost with the receipt of a substantial grant, totaling $225,000, from the State Department of Education. ... LifeSkills Class Opens at Bayshore M.S. ... IMPACT is an organization of parents (Improving Middletown’s Program for Autistic Children Together) that has recently lived up to the vision of its name. ... Read More>>

Superintendent's Update
Karen L. Bilbao, Acting Superintendent (Volume 4, Issue 5, January 2007)

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS ... We have entered into our first partnership with a local business that is willing to provide an opportunity for general education students from our high schools ... RANDOM DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING  Our Random Drug and Alcohol testing is well underway in both high schools ... SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM  This is a year of Community Partnerships. We have our first partnership with a community-based counseling agency, CPC Behavioral Health, ... ALUMNI VISIT HIGH SCHOOLS DURING COLLEGE WINTER BREAK  At High School North, 18 students from four different graduating years visited the school for an assembly. ... FRED CARRIGG, WELCOME TO MIDDLETOWN! ... We welcome Fred Carrigg, District Director of Curriculum in Grades 6-12, who will be starting in the district as of July 1, 2007. ... AUSTIN ACADEMY OPENS  The District’s first Alternative High School Program is scheduled to open on January 30th. ... LITERACY INITIATIVE ... Our district is eligible for additional State Aid this year based on our current count of low-income families. Termed HELP (High Expectations for Learning) Aid, ... Read More>>