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Teachers and union highlight student achievements, grants and programs at Lacey Township meeting
Summary
Teachers, union representatives and the superintendent shared student awards, school projects, fundraising totals and grant wins, including scholarship totals, a sensory-space grant and a published first-grade book project.
Teachers and Lacey Township Education Association representatives used public comment at the June 12 board meeting to share student accomplishments, school projects and recent grants.
"The LTA would like to acknowledge all the good things that are happening with our students," Jen Bentley, vice president of the Lacey Township Education Association, told the board. Bentley said more than $430,000 in scholarships were awarded to seniors at scholarship night; the LTA raised $2,000 to award as scholarships and presented the first Julie Lisonbee Memorial Scholarship of $1,700.
Bentley also described school events across the district: senior activities, field days, fundraiser results and student recognition programs. Fort Bend River School raised $25,500 for the Kids Heart Challenge and the Forkett River School Hero Club raised $249 for the Forkett River Volunteer Fire Department. Lenoka Harbor distributed about 1,900 books through a school-wide book program supported by donations that raised $3,000 for classroom books.
First-grade teachers Jennifer Virge, Vanessa Entile and Katie Bridal described a writing-and-publishing project: each of their three classes wrote books that were published by Student Treasures; one student wrote his page in braille. "These young authors read their pages to their class and family members and they were filled with so much pride," the teachers said.
Marissa Maslin, a Cedar Creek teacher, reported that Cedar Creek students visited the Field of Dreams inclusive playground in Toms River with 12 fourth- and fifth-grade "Lion Helpers" who had acted as peer models through the year; Maslin said the park's founder praised the students' behavior.
Superintendent Esther Zielinski noted district academic partnerships, saying local students have participated in Ocean County College courses: "Just this year alone, our students saved $563,852 by participating in this program," she said, adding the district has graduated more than 150 students from college courses over the past six years through the partnership.
No board action was taken on the items discussed; speakers used the public-comment period to celebrate student work and community support.
