Clinton Township Newsletter

1 1 o c t o b e r 2 0 2 5 EVERY STUDENT INSPIRED, EVERY TEAM MEMBER SUPPORTED, AND EVERY FAMILY ENGAGED. CLINTON TOWNSHIP PTA FALL CLOTHING DRIVE 2025 Friday, Nov. 14, 3-6 pm and Saturday, Nov. 15, 9 am-12 pm Clinton Township Middle School, 34 Grayrock Road ACCEPTED ITEMS: Clean, wearable clothing (men's, women's and children's– any size/season), shoes, belts, handbags, hats, scarves, backpacks, household linens (curtains, bedding, towels, pillows, sleeping bags), stuffed animals, baby accessories, bikes. Small toys are accepted but they cannot exceed 24" and must be bagged. We cannot accept the following items: CDs, DVDs, VCR, books, electronics, home decor, appliances, exercise equipment, pots/pans, baby gear, board games. Please bring all donations in well-tied plastic bags, and ensure bags do not exceed 25lbs. After entering the CTMS driveway, make your first right and follow the loop around to the front of the building. Our volunteers will unload your donations for you, no need to even get out of your car! Tax receipts are available. The PTA earns money per pound of donated items. Proceeds from this event support educational programs, assemblies and other activities sponsored by the Clinton Township PTA. Donations are NOT shredded. Items collected go to A&E Clothing, a for-profit company that collects unwanted clothing and other items and resells them in the U.S. and other developing countries. Check out: www.ClothingDrive. net or www.aeclothing.net for more information. TEENS: Earn service hours by volunteering to work this excellent fundraiser! For more information please contact Tiffany Mulick: tmulick13@gmail.com or Tania Fennell: tania93.avon@gmail.com.Thanks so much for supporting the Clinton Township PTA! (There will not be a PTA clothing drive this Spring. Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity to clean out your closets and support our schools!) We are off to a great start at PMG! Our students enjoyed meeting our new School Resource Officer, Dylan Dohanic. There were high fives all around! We appreciate our collaboration with the Clinton Township Police Department and look forward to the positive relationships O f f i c e r D o h a n i c w i l l b u i l d w i t h o u r students throughout the year. His presence in our district helps reinforce o u r c o m m i t m e n t t o maintaining a safe and welcoming learning environment for all. T h a n k y o u to Mrs. James a n d o u r P T A for organizing the PTA Welcome Back Ice Cream Social! The rain held out, and families enjoyed ice cream and music at this fun back-to-school event. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new families who have joined our community. Events like these strengthen the bonds that make PMG such a special place to learn and grow. Please consider joining the PTA to help to continue these great events! Mark your calendar for the Pumpkin Carving event on October 17. Thank you, PTA! Round Valley School Students and staff at Round Valley School are off to a fantastic beginning this school year! The opening days have been filled with energy and excitement as our learning community comes together. Our students have done an excellent job adjusting to c l a s s r o o m r o u t i n e s a n d e x p e c t a t i o n s . Teachers have focused on helping students become comfortable with daily procedures while beginning the important work of building positive classroom communities. It's been wonderful to see new friendships forming and students settling into their learning environments with enthusiasm. This year, Round Valley School has set ambitious literacy goals. The foundation we're building now will serve our students well throughout the year. Families play a crucial role in our students' success, and we encourage parents to establish supportive routines at home that complement our school efforts. Simple practices like setting aside dedicated reading time each day, creating quiet spaces for homework, and maintaining consistent bedtimes can make a significant difference in each child's academic progress. When school and home routines work together, students thrive. We're grateful for our community's continued support and look forward to sharing more exciting updates about student achievements and school activities throughout the year. Here's to a successful year of learning and growth at Round Valley School! Clinton Township Middle School Hello! I am Yonca Oktay, and I am excited to join the CTMS community this year. I bring over 25 years of experience in public, private, and International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, having served as a classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, and assistant principal in eight countries—including Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, and right here in New Jersey. This year, I will be teaching 6th and 7th grade Social Studies. I hold both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Education, which have shaped my global perspective and student-centered approach. I am passionate about helping students make meaningful connections—between the past and present, between different cultures, and, most importantly, with one another. My classroom is a place where curiosity is encouraged, kindness is valued, and we grow together as a learning community. I empower my students to use their voices and develop their leadership skills—because one day, they'll be the changemakers shaping a more compassionate and connected world. When I'm not teaching, you'll usually find me hiking, exploring new cultures, or planning my next big travel adventure. My name means "four-leaf clover" in Turkish, and I look forward to a year filled with meaningful connections—and maybe even a little classroom magic—with my students and their families! Hi, I'm Colleen Villiano and I'm thrilled to be joining CTMS this fall as a leave replacement teacher for Ms. Dmuchowski. I hold a B.S. in Special Education and Early Childhood Education from West Chester University, and bring over 15 years experience helping students overcome academic challenges and thrive as confident learners. As a proud CTSD parent, I'm especially excited to contribute to the incredible community here and look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff. Hi! My name is Meghan Garofalo and I am so excited to be joining the CTMS staff this year! I will be a Special Education teacher at the middle school. This is my fourth year teaching. I graduated from Susquehanna University with my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. I am currently working towards my Master's in Special Education. My goal is to have a warm and welcoming classroom where my students can excel in learning new skills. I grew up in Glen Gardner and I am excited to be back in the area teaching! IMPORTANT DATES TO KEEP IN MIND THIS MONTH October 2 - Schools Closed (Yom Kippur) | October 13 - Schools Closed (Professional Development Day)

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