School Days

Compiled by: Jen Campbell
Freeholder Ralph E. Bakley, Sr. and the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored Theresa Bryan, a teacher in the 
Upper Township School District for eleven years, for being named the 2009-2010 Cape May County Teacher of the Year.
Freeholder Bakley said, “Theresa Bryan, a preschool special education 
teacher at the Primary School, is involved in many activities and is 
committed to working with others to make the entire school a positive place 
for students. She has been described by others as a dream co-worker, always 
willing to support others.”
Bryan will now compete in the state-level Teacher of the Year Program. The 
winner will be announced in October.
Bishop McHugh
Summer Art Classes will be offered by Lisa Beard Barry Tuesdays, July 6-August 10 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School, 2221 Route 9 N., Ocean View. The cost of the course is $150 and all materials are included. Call 624-1900, ext. 21 for more information or to register.
Eighth graders graduated June 7 at Maris Stella Church in Avalon. The graduating class consisted of:
Jacqueline Battaglia
James Bennett
Joe Bravo
Devon Bry
Megan Burlaga
Jake Cassidy
Ashley Fazio
Kaitlyn Fox
Emily Freeman
Kimberly Gawarzewski
Olivia Gorecke
Mark Grimes
Trevor Hand
Kaitlin Kenney
Christian Lipski
Tom Lonergan
Lauren Marshall
Natalie McKenna
Garrett Moretti
Joe Nardi
Robert Ohlsen
Josh Rutkowski
Zack Sakena
Chelsea Schaefer
Katie Seliger
Sarah Shields
Connor Shortall
Noelle Sittineri
The following are awards and scholarships many of the students received:
Olivia Gorecke and Zachary Sakena – Knights of Columbus Madonna Maria Council Scholarship
Olivia Gorecke – Catholic Daughters of America, Our Lady of Mercy Council Scholarship.
Sarah Shields – Mary Thesera Sher Kindness Award for an incoming freshman of Holy Spirit High School.
Lauren Marshall – Award for Outstanding Work in Religion: Donated by Catherine Magee in memory of her daughter, Jeannie Gibson.
Olivia Gorecke – Award for Outstanding Work in Language Arts: Donated by Cass Magee in memory of her husband, Richard Magee.
Kaitlyn Fox – Award for Outstanding Work in Algebra: Donated by Mrs. Hendee and her mother, Bonnie Stein In memory of their beloved brother and son, Chad Stein.
Joseph Bravo – Award for Outstanding Work in Social Studies: Donated by Dr. Vecere Orthodontics.
Kaitlyn Fox – Award for Outstanding Work in Science: Donated by the Christine Kiefer Scholarship Fund.
Noelle Sittineri – Award for Outstanding Work in Art: Donated by Dr. Vecere Orthodontics.
Trevor Hand – Award for Outstanding Work in Music Performance: Donated by the Music Dept of Bishop McHugh.
Sarah Shields – Award for Outstanding Effort in All Subject Areas: Donated by First Bank of Sea Isle City.
Kaitlyn Fox – Award for Academic Excellence in All Subject Areas: Donated by Sturdy Savings Bank.
Sarah Shields – Scholar Athlete Award: Donated by the Bishop McHugh Athletic Association.
Katie Seliger – “In Search of Excellence Award” in recognition of academic strides and character development donated by Dr. Bray and Dr. Pfund Orthodontics.
Zachary Sakena and Sarah Shields – Knights of Columbus Madonna Maria Council Award: Donated by the Knights of Columbus of St. Joseph Parish.
Joseph Bravo and Kaitlin Kenney – Knights of Columbus of Our Lady of the Angels Award.
Jacqueline Battaglia, Megan Burlaga, Natalie McKenna and Christiana Lipski – Our Lady of the Angels Senior Club Achievement Award.
Jake Cassidy and Emily Freeman – Mid-Jersey Cape Rotary Youth Service Award: Donated by the Mid- Jersey Cape Rotary Club.
Olivia Gorecke – Service Award in recognition of a demonstrated sense of good will and scholarship throughout the school and community: Donated by the Office of Dr. Finkelson Orthodontics.
Tom Lonergan and Devon Bry – Catholic Daughters of America Community Service Award in recognition for service to parish and school: Donated by the Catholic Daughters of America- Court Our Lady of Mercy, St. Joseph Parish.
Emily Freeman – Award for Consistent Generosity and Service to Others: Presented by the Sisters of Mercy in memory of their loving founder Catherine McCauley. This award is presented to the graduate who consistently shows great tolerance for all and who exhibits qualities of service for God without expecting thanks.
Sarah Shields – The Perfect Attendance Award
In other Bishop McHugh news, fourth grade Social Studies teacher Margie Cullen recently introduced her students to the Flat Stanley project. This fun-filled project is an outcome of the Flat Stanley adventure books. Students created their own “Flat Stanley” and mailed him out to family and friends all across the United States. The students then coordinated pictures, postcards, letters and other memorabilia into their finished projects. Some places Flat Stanley visited were California, Florida, Maine and even the White House.
Caroline Byrne, one of Cullen’s students, mailed her Flat Stanley to the Obama children, Malia and Sasha at the White House. Byrne received a letter back from First Lady Michelle Obama explaining all of the adventures Flat Stanley had during his visit to the White House. Included with the letter were pictures of First Lady and the First Dog, Bo.
Cape Christian Academy
Dr. Jack Cuozzo, a creationist, author, and orthodontist, visited students at Cape Christian Academy last week.
Dr. Cuozzo presented topics all day in science classes as well as a culminating presentation to the school body and visitors. He shared his experiences in research and travel abroad relating some of the discoveries that have been made as to the age of the “Neanderthal Man” and other interesting facts he has found.
Currently, Dr. Cuozzo is working on the contents of a T-Rex’s stomach, a job that enthralled many students. The details of that find have not been released to the public, but he promises that the information he and the other scientists are gathering will be food for many interesting discussions.
Cape May County Technical
GED testing at the Cape May County Technical School District is July 7 and 8 and also July 21 and 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mandatory pre-registration and orientation for the July 7 and 8 testing is Tuesday, July 6; for the July 21 and 22 testing, orientation is Tuesday July 20. Both orientations are 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the GED test area, room 145 of the Tozour Building, 188 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House.
Those interested in the GED test must bring a money order or cash for $50 (no personal checks) and one form of government-issued photo ID. Applicants who are 16 must present a photo ID, original birth certificate and Social Security card; also, 16 and 17 year olds must present their certificate of consent to participate at the time of registration. Contact the GED office for a form.
For information call the Continuing Education office, 465-2161, x 648 or 646. For additional test dates visit capemaytech.com
Arrangements can be made for all of the GED testing information contained in this notice to be better profiled to individuals with limited English language skills or with impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills to enable them to benefit as qualified for opportunities addressed in this notice. Special GED testing accommodations may be requested for individuals challenged with diagnosed physical, emotional or educational special needs.
In other Tech news, a multi-faceted project that promotes solar energy to the community, trains people to install solar panels with hands-on learning experiences and provides electricity to the Wetlands Institute was officially dedicated May 14.
Officials from the Cape May County Technical School District, The Design Collaborative, the Atlantic Cape May Workforce Investment Board, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 351 and the Wetlands Institute partnered on the project which was funded with grant money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The WIB also provided 14 students who took classes at the Technical School District through the evening school program from January to April studying solar panel installation.
The installation of a 5 kilowatt panel solar array on the roof of the Wetlands Institute, provided by the IBEW, now helps generate the electricity needed for filtration aquarium systems at the Wetlands Institute, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The grant proposal had four major initiatives including solar panel installation, hands-on learning, and a community venue to show the benefits of solar energy and foster a better understanding of solar energy and job opportunities and an educational partnership to benefit adult and high school students in the future.
A real-time kiosk in the lobby area at the Wetlands Institute demonstrates the impact that a solar array can have on energy needs to the 50,000 people who visit the Wetlands Institute each year.
The Technical School District and the Wetlands Institute will continue the renewable energy education program for at least five years to help New Jersey’s efforts to reach a 20% reduction in fossil fuel energy consumption by 2020.
Six students from Cape May County Tech brought home the gold from the SkillsUSA Championships May 8 at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset. In June, they will compete on the national level in Kansas City, MO.
In the Tech Prep Showcase in Law and Public Safety Jessica Mahoney, Rasheria Griffin, Taylor Greenberg, all 11th grade students in Matt Pleasants Law and Public Safety class, won gold medals. In Mobile Electronics, Chris Gonzales, a 12th grade student in John Dennison’s Automotive Technology program was awarded a gold medal, as was Charles Dalrymple for Food and Beverage Service. He is an 11th grade student in Dave Masterson’s Culinary Arts class.
Silver medalists were: Nail Care, post secondary, Stacey O’ Malley and model; Job Skills Demonstration, Brooke Craver and set up person, Megan Daniels; Technical Computer Applications, Rich Ziegler and Technical Related Math, William Blankley.
Bronze medal winners were Esthetics, post secondary, Sarah DiIeno and model Brandi Watt; Quiz Bowl, Bruce Knoll, Ben Campbell, Natalie Green, Garrett Heilpern, Fotios Tsarouhis, Angelo Walton, Ami Adams and alternates Brett Murphy, Jimmy Ferguson, Grainne Dougherty and Evan Miller; Audio Recording Production, Jeff Fralinger and Kaitlyn Prosser; Criminal Justice, Andy Ranizewski.
Nancy Fissel, an English teacher at the school, was named the 2010 State SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year.
When it comes to bringing home awards in categories from job interviews to best dressed, nobody does it better than the FFA Chapter at the Cape May County Technical High School. This year the chapter returned from the New Jersey FFA convention held on the campus of Cook College with scholarships, chapter awards, student/teacher recognition and more.
JoAnn Sopcak, who teaches agri-science at the school and is an FFA advisor, was named the 2010 National Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Teacher in New Jersey along with a Superior Teacher, Gold Rating.
Scholarships Awarded: Alec McAlarnen, the Harry S Schneiber Memorial Scholarship for $500 and the John Cummings Memorial Scholarship for $450; Katrina Nicoletta, the Norman J. Schnetzer Memorial Scholarship for $1,750 and the RAM Trucks Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship for $1,000. Two alumnae also received scholarship awards to continue their education at Stockton College. Hanna Toft, received the May L. Gerlack Memorial Scholarship and Keely Weinberger, the Kenneth Harding Memorial Scholarship and the Joshua Geary Memorial Scholarship.
Career Development Event: First place winners were Kylie Smith, Job Interview; Kaity Dunlevy, State Essay and Lauren Rodia, Individual Demonstration. Second place award for 6-8 Minute Prepared Public Speaking; Team Demonstration with Tom Gleason & Lindsey Steelman, Official Ceremonies with Jimmie Ferguson, Carly Hilton, Alec McAlarnen,
Katie Mumford, Katrina Nicoletta, Valerie Robertson, Kylie Smith and Holly Toft. Landscape Design: Kaity Dunlevy, third, Sacred DeFeo, fourth and Brooke Craver, fifth.
Chapter Awards: Best Dressed Chapter (30 members in official dress at all times; State Superior Chapter, the second consecutive year that the Cape May County Tech chapter has been ranked number one; National Chapter Award, Gold; H.O. Sampson Award, Gold; Chapter Scrapbook, second place, Portable Exhibit, third place.
NJ FFA Association State Officers: Jimmie Ferguson, State Sentinel; Alec McAlarnen, State Secretary, Keely Weinberger, State Vice President; Hanna Toft, Executive Board Committee Chair.
Community Awards: Honorary State Degree, Jean Nicoletta, president Cape May County FFA Alumni Association; Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, Cape May County Board of Agriculture, James Tweed, President
Student Recognition:
Agriscience Fair Category/Division Winners: Ami Adams & Kane Daly, Team Environmental Science; Meghan Daniels, Individual Environmental Science; Jo-Lin Parker & Sara Ehrhardt, Team Food Science; Floriculture CDE – First place team: Alec McAlarnen, ranked number one individually; Valerie Robertson, ranked number 2 individually; Katie Mumford. Katrina Nicoletta.
Nursery/Landscape CDE – First place Team: Jesse Kamm, ranked number one individually; Brooke Craver, ranked number three individually; ◦ Jamie Bowden, ranked number four individually; and Sacred DeFeo.
Garden State FFA Degree Recipients: Peggy Bravo, Lindsay Cafiero, Jimmie Ferguson, Carly Hilton, Alec McAlarnen, Katie Mumford, Katrina Nicoletta, Valerie Robertson, Kylie Smith and Holly Toft.
American FFA Degree Recipient: Highest degree possible and first time for Cape May Tech, Keely Weinberger.
Blue Jackets Contest Winners: Anjeleen Coppa, Sara Ehrhardt, Roxanne Geylani, Jesse Kamm, Jo-Lin Parker, Christopher Pujols, Shavon Mangold, Wil Mullins and Carlie Schweibinz.
Glenwood Avenue
Children’s author, Dan Gutman, visited the students at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School on June 1. “I hated to read as a kid,” Gutman told the students. “But around the time I was ten years old, I became a big sports fan. I wanted to know everything about sports. Reading baseball cards, magazines, and biographies of my favorite athletes made me into a reader.
My mother was astonished that I grew up and became a professional writer.” Dan Gutman took the students through the steps of the publishing process, from the first idea to the finished book. He told students about the amount of rejection letters he received for his manuscripts, but emphasized how he never gave up.
In other Glenwood news, May 27, the students celebrated Community Spirit Day. The activities began at the Wildwood Convention Center with members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 955 and students saluting the American flag.
The elementary and high school choirs entertained everyone, and the highlight of the opening festivities was the presentation of a donation from the Glenwood staff to Ted Greenberg, a reporter from NBC 10, who accepted it on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Throughout the day, students had fun at various field activities and community sponsored presentations.
The fun-packed day ended with a water ice treat, compliments of Rita’s Water Ice. Our thanks to all staff at the Wildwood Convention Center and to all the presenters and organizations who made our Community Spirit Day tons of fun!
Stone Harbor
The Stone Harbor Elementary School’s eighth grade class recently returned from a three-day trip to our nations’ capital. The students had many opportunities to combine learning and fun.
Upon arriving in Washington, the group met with Congressman Frank LoBiondo for pictures and a tour of the capital. Next they were off to the Smithsonian and divided into two groups based on their personal interests. A night tour of the famous monuments was one of the class’s highlights of the trip.
Day Two was kicked off at the Newseum where students were able to record their own broadcasts as well as tour one of Washington’s newest attractions.
They had a brief stop at the National Aquarium to view an exhibit on sea life and the ocean environment. The students found intrigue and mystery at the Spy Museum. This museum is always a favorite with both the girls and the boys. The group spent an hour trying to solve an international secret.
That evening was spent at Ford’s Theater viewing “ A Little Shop of Horrors”. This lively musical, a former Broadway hit, was fun for the entire eighth grade.
Day Three began at the Holocaust Museum where they were able to tour Daniel’s Story followed by a tour of the permanent exhibits documenting the history of the Jewish people during the W. W. II era. The trip concluded touring Union Station before boarding AMTRAK for the ride home.
Each year the eighth grade class enjoys earning money and planning for this three day highlight of their final year at Stone Harbor School.
8th grade student Lauren Legler recently organized a school wide drive for the benefit of the Cape May County Animal Shelter. While volunteering at the shelter, Lauren became aware of a critical need of basic supplies. Her efforts exemplify the character trait of the month at Stone Harbor School, citizenship.
Anyone interested in donating supplies to the animal shelter may drop off food, paper towels, animal beds or monetary donations to the shelter at 110 Shelter Road, Cape May Court House.
S.H.E.S Seeks Alumni for 100th Anniversary-
The Stone Harbor Elementary School is planning to celebrate its 100th Anniversary on Friday, September 24. The school is inviting all alumni for an assembly and barbecue on that day from 11:30 a.m.
The Stone Harbor PTC is also planning an evening social at the S.H. Yacht Club. All interested should answer a questionnaire, either by going to the Stone Harbor School website: www.shesnj.org, or mailing responses to the Stone Harbor School, 275 93rd Street, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247. Alumni are encouraged to share any school related photos they may have.
Include the following information if mailing:
• Name (maiden name)
• Home Address and/or email address
• Years attended S.H.E.S
• A favorite memory of S.H.E.S
• Will you attend the assembly/ barbecue?
• Will you attend the evening social?
• Do you have any additional school memorabilia you would like to display for the anniversary? Please specify.
Send your school news, updates, and photos to jcampbell@cmcherald.com