School Days

Avalon & Stone Harbor Schools are proud to present “The Beauty and the Beast” March 26 and March 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Stone Harbor School’s All-Purpose Room. Admission is free.
Cape May County Technical High School
The Cape May Tech Haiti Relief Fund recently organized a three-day fundraiser to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. By collecting spare change during lunch periods from students and faculty, the students raised $800 that was donated to the American Red Cross. Fotios Tsarouhis served as the founding chair of the fund and participating students included: Ami Adams, Roxanne Geylani, Maryann Balla, Valerie Robertson, Margaret Bravo, Emily DiPietro, Briana Pfielmeier, Zachalee Mercado, Olivia Tirello, Randi Lauriello, Mike McGowan, Carly Heminway, Danielle Beck, Jenny Ciabatoni, Morgan Scully, Victoria Mason, Matt Mortorana, Rich Ziegler, Kasey Phillips, Jenna Ankeny, Jeffrey Fralinger and Holly Toft along with Ed Harshaw and Jennifer Siciliano, teacher advisors.
Dennis Township
Dennis Township Elementary School is proud to announce Leah Nagle is the winner and Jenna Herlihy the runner-up for Cape May County in the 2010 Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey’s Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest.
Fifth graders from Dennis Township School District have been competing in the statewide contest since its inception in 2003 and have now won for the last three years in a row. Students must submit a drawing and essay about an endangered animal connected to New Jersey and judges select one winner and a runner-up from each county.
Nagle, whose sister Devon won the same contest in 2009 chose to research and write about the bald eagle. “It feels really good to win this contest,” Nagle states. “I worked very hard on my project and I learned a lot as I was doing it.” Nagle also praises her sister for giving her good advice and says she thinks the competition was well worth the effort.
Herlihy, whose endangered animal was the Pine Barrens tree frog, was equally excited about the award. “Having to do the research really helped me learn about my animal,” she explains, adding, “It was fun, too.”
The girls competed with over two thousand other students in New Jersey for the honors and will attend an awards ceremony late spring in recognition of their achievement. Matt Arch, the new fifth grade science teacher, is proud of his students’ accomplishments and plans to continue the tradition started by his predecessor, Judy Aspenburg, of participating in the annual competition.
“Students have to select an animal, research it, write an essay and draw a picture, so it requires not just science knowledge, but skills ranging from online research and reading comprehension to concise writing to excellent artwork,” Arch elaborates. “These are skills we want all of our students to develop and Leah and Jenna truly deserve this recognition because they are great students.”
For more information about the contest and other programs, visit the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey at www.conservewildlifenj.org.
In other Dennis Township news, staff and students alike recently welcomed Matt Arch as the new fifth grade science teacher at Dennis Township Elementary School. Replacing Judy Aspenburg, who retired from teaching at the end of January, Arch has quickly become a strong member of the fifth grade team.
A 2005 graduate of Cook College at Rutgers University, Arch majored in biology, earned his teaching certificate in science and is ecstatic to be able to teach what he loves. “I’ve always been a science buff and now I get to share my knowledge and love of science with my students,” Arch explains.
A Linwood native, Arch has also been a lifeguard for thirteen years in Margate and plans to continue keeping swimmers safe for as long as he can, ideally reaching the rank of lieutenant or captain. He is also a big fan of technology and incorporates it in innovative ways in his classroom, such as having students participate in activities on his touch-screen computer or videotaping science experiments to show to other classes.
“My goal is to give my kids a chance to learn something that will really last,” states Arch. “I use technology to reinforce essential concepts and try to inspire my students to develop a passion for science and the inquiry-based learning process.” Needless to say, Arch is overjoyed that his classroom is scheduled to receive an interactive whiteboard within the next month and plans on using it extensively.
Lower Township
Students celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss with a different activity that promoted reading each day of the week. Students listened to guest readers one day and participated in, “curl up with a good book” another day and completed their weeklong celebration with, “bring a book to the beach day” on Friday. Students brought their favorite book, beach towel, sunglasses and sunscreen to the beach, which was actually Maud Abrams Cafeteria that was turned into a beach complete with a Sea Doo watercraft.
Wildwood Catholic
Wildwood Catholic, a college preparatory high school, is currently accepting applications for the 2010-11 academic year. Financial aid is available for incoming students. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact WCHS at 522-7257 to discuss individual needs and to obtain an application for admission. Additionally, prospective students are invited to experience a day as a Crusader through shadowing existing Wildwood Catholic students. For more information or to schedule a shadow date, please call 522-7257.
The annual Mr. Wildwood Catholic Scholarship Pageant and Prom Fashion Show was held on March 16 in the school auditorium. Twelve boys competed in casual wear, swimwear, talent and question rounds before a panel of judges. Senior girls modeled the latest prom fashions from Rissy Roo’s.
The 2009 Mr. Wildwood contestants were Matt Accardi, Chad Alvarado, Aaron Cowan, David Hall, Alex Knowles, Dave McCallion, Jim Norris, Kyle Raucci, McKenzey Scott, Von Schifferdecker, David Von Savage, and Mike Walsh.
McKenzey Scott was crowned Mr. Wildwood Catholic. David Von Savage was first runner-up and Dave McCallion was second runner-up. David Von Savage won the People’s Choice Award, and Mike Walsh was deemed Mr. Congeniality. David Von Savage placed first in the casual wear category, and Kyle Raucci won the swimwear round. David Von Savage won the talent round, and McKenzey Scott placed first in the question round.
Wildwood Crest
Crest Memorial School students in grades three through eight who have produced exemplary written work during the months of January and February were recently rewarded with a pizza party and prominent display of their compositions.
Crest Memorial Principal, Ann-Maria Guevara, an educator who strives to improve student-writing skills through encouragement and example, originated the Principal’s Corner.
Not only is the work of the young writers exhibited in the main entrance to the school, but they were also treated to a pizza lunch with Guevara. During the lunch, students discussed their essays with the principal. Those achieving Principal’s Corner received a certificate commending them for their writing excellence.
The students named to Crest Memorial’s Principal’s Corner for January/February 2010 are as follows:
3rd grade: Chris Johnson, Tabby Moore, Bella Feraco, and Lauren Sorensen
4th grade: T.J. Hunt, John Ciglinsky, Madison Mahon, Madison Hamlin and Giovanna Palermo
5th grade: Dayna Bucolo, Tyler Johnson, James Werba, and Fred Spiewak
6th grade: Westyn Sawyer, Kristina Voorhees, Jacob Hesley, Jackson Rogers, Jaclyn Gehring, Mackenzie Bradley and Lily Nguyen
7th grade: Makena Heym, Alissa D’Amico, Holly Golato, Claudia Melchiorre, and Hayden Garrabrant
8th grade: Mackenzie Scully, Jordan Sedotti, Mackenzie Huber, Jennie Kole, John Murray, Jason Sierra, and Melonie Weaver
Send your school news, updates, and photos to
jcampbell@cmcherald.com