Each month, the Board of Education recognizes students from every school at their meeting. This month the Board of Education celebrated the following students and their achievements with the community:
Manchester Township Elementary School:
At Manchester Township Elementary School (MTES), chess instruction was added to the media center program in 2019 as a way to strengthen students’ critical thinking and strategic planning skills, as well as their social and emotional learning. Each year since then, fifth-grade students spend time mastering the game in January and then compete in a tournament in early February. This year we are proud to recognize our 2024-2025 chess champions: Joshua Meyer, Muhammed Yildiz, Caden Mendiola, Julia Stabinsky, and Ricardo Camacho.
Ridgeway Elementary School
Broden Houman of Ridgeway Elementary School is an outstanding student and individual whose achievements and contributions extend far beyond the classroom. Broden’s involvement with collecting cereal for the MTSD 2025 Cereal Drive with the help of local restaurant Shut Up and Eat and Paul Prendergast Karate School has been a testament to his selflessness and desire to make a positive impact on others. His generosity, dedication, hard work, and compassionate nature will continue to be showcased throughout every aspect of his life.
Whiting Elementary School
Whiting Elementary School is recognizing Hannah Gwodz, Joseph Griesch, Addie Seaman, and Dean Simos for taking the lead in the MTSD 2025 Cereal Wars Impact Club project. The students helped to organize donated boxes of cereal that were distributed to food banks serving the residents of Ocean County. Their efforts to help reach those in need in our community are appreciated and applauded.
Regional Day School
Bryce is Regional Day School’s (RDS) student of the month. He has made amazing strides in the classroom since joining us at RDS. Bryce has been working very hard academically and behaviorally. He has been using his manners and is a good friend. Bryce really enjoys being around the preschool students and helping them.
Manchester Township Middle School
It is with great honor that Manchester Township Middle School (MTMS) recognizes Owen Williams as the MTMS Student of the Month. Owen is working towards his Eagle Scout status and aiming to achieve 138 badges. In pursuit of badge #91, the weather badge, Owen visited News12 New Jersey and was an honorary weather person, delivering the 10-day weather forecast on January 29th. Owen stated that he is pursuing the maximum 138 badges to experience as much as possible. He is truly an inspiration and we at MTMS are so proud of him.
Manchester Township Middle School – Athletes of the Month
We are extremely proud to have Grady Simmons and Rylee Seaman represent Manchester Township Middle School (MTMS) as our student athletes for the month of February. Grady and Rylee are both a great representation of what it means to be a student athlete. They are both 8th grade leaders of our basketball/baseball and soccer/cheerleading teams respectively, work just as hard in the classroom as they do in the athletic arena, and serve as an excellent example to our younger student athletes.
Manchester Township High School
We would like to recognize Manchester Township High School (MTHS) students and JROTC leaders, Cadet Ashlyn Martin and Cadet Mia Caruso, as Manchester Township High School’s students of the month.
Cadet Martin, Executive Officer, leads a 10-cadet team, assigns tasks, and oversees drill training for March. Her dedication and leadership are vital to the Unit.
Cadet Caruso, Command Senior Chief, manages uniforms and a 9-cadet staff. As Color Guard Commander, she schedules and leads training and events. Her organization and vision are key to the Unit's success.
Manchester Township High School – Athletes of the Month
It is Janiece Reyes' (℅ 2027) 1st true season in the jumps, with a historic winter in high jump. She is the first female Hawk to clear 5' indoor in over 20 years. It took her just two meets for her to set the school record in the long jump, going over 17'. She had a very impressive triple jump, going over 34'. Janiece also lead the team in times for the 55 meter dash and 55 meter hurdles.
Evan Beam also had an impressive indoor track season breaking the school record in the long jump with a distance of 22’2” and then breaking his own record with a jump of 22’8.5” He also has cleared 5’10” in the high jump.
Both of these students are hard workers and represent our school community positively in the classroom and on the track. Congratulations Janiece and Evan.
Heroic Efforts by Staff at Ridgeway Elementary School
On February 19, 2025, we witnessed remarkable heroism in our school community thanks to the prompt and courageous actions of Ms. Alyssa Testa and Mr. Reid Stapp.
Manchester Township Education Foundation: Mini-Grant Recipients
All Elementary Schools:
Robyn Palmer: Battle of the Books - Year-long competition, teams by school, culminating in an all-day event, awarded: $1,000.00
Crystal Policastro: We Like to Move It, Move It! - Desk bands, calming tools, visual timers, lap blankets, weighted stuffed animals, awarded: $682.87
Kimberly Costagliola: From Sounds to Stories - Support early literacy development for first grade students, decodable books, and teacher training, awarded: $988.03
Ridgeway Elementary School:
Dina Cofone/Deb Johnson/Shannon Adiletta: Superstar Second Grade Readers - Raz Plus Online Reading, awarded $744.00
Jessica Stab: Emotions, feelings, and self control - support social and emotional learning in preschool students, awarded: $675.98
Tara Chaiken: Alphabet Sounds Teaching Tubs to promote early literacy skills in preschool students, awarded: $200.00
Kelly Valenti: Library media STEM electronics exploration - LittleBits Electronic Deluxe Kit & 3 Snap Circuits Electronic Exploration Kits to expand Media Center monthly STEM projects, awarded: $378.96
Manchester Township Elementary School:
Jaime Mnich: Preschool Playground A Frame Communication Board Playground communication support for all students, awarded $1,380.00
Jessica DeRiggi: Individual Listening Stations for Multilingual Learners Toniebox - A screen free speaker that comes to life when paired with a Tonie. Provides opportunity for individualized listening in English, awarded: $693.00
Kate Toomey: Eyes of the Wild Show - Third grade students visited by a local exotic animal rescue facility for an animal learning experience, awarded: $340.00
Whiting Elementary School:
Jennifer Carr: Kindergarten Technology - Purchasing additional IPads to enhance learning in ELA and Math for kindergarten students, awarded: $700
Colleen Goetz: Funtastical - Take Physical Education to the next level by enhancing “9 Square in the Air”, awarded: $824.61
Regional Day School:
Allison McCann: Sensory Integration - A Home and School Connection provides preschool students and families a take home opportunity to enhance sensory integration, motor skills and family connections, awarded: $600.00
Leslie Old/Megan Romanowski/Alex Jacoby/Ally Scarano: Sensory Room - A Rainbow Wall Panel and 2 Big Joe Classic Bean bags to enhance sensory room for all Regional Day School students, awarded: $454.94
Manchester Township Middle School:
Kerrie McDonnell: Breakout EDU Classroom Tools - Hands on Tool Kit with interactive learning challenges, awarded: $214.00
Nicole Baldelli: Get Band in Tune! - Tuners to use throughout rehearsals to train ears for better, stronger musicians, awarded: $300.00
Manchester Township High School:
Brianna McKiernan/Erica Eno: Students Today, Good Samaritans Tomorrow - Purchase of American Red Cross manikins that include key upgrade in the form of lights to help Grade 12 students self regulate the quality of CPR compressions, awarded: $2,208.58