Clinton Township Newsletter

1 5 M a y 2 0 1 8 Their love of children and pure joy in spending their time in our school each day is evident. While we will miss them both greatly, and wish Mrs. Pendlebury and Mrs. Dul the very best in all the wonder that lies ahead, we remain so appreciative of all that they have created, and we promise to continue upon the path they have set. Patrick McGaheran School Patrick McGaheran School Retirements: Mrs. Virginia Brooks has been a teaching assistant in the Clinton Township School District since 1993! She is a valued member of the second and third grade teams, providing learning support to many children throughout the years, all while spreading kindness and sharing her peppy, optimistic personality. When asked to reflect on her time at PMG, Mrs. Brooks shared, "I feel like I have always tried to make a difference in our students' lives by helping them to progress both educationally and socially. I also treasure the relationships I have made with the students over the years. It's always fun to run into them and to hear all about what they have been up to. Recently, it warmed my heart to attend the wedding of one of my past students! Yes, PMG has given me memories that will last a lifetime!" Mrs. Brooks is looking forward to moving to Charlotte, North Carolina. She is excited to decorate her new home, make lots of new friends and have more time to spend with her grandchildren Although she may be moving to another state, Mrs. Brooks feels, "I will always be a Jersey Girl at heart." We are so appreciative of Mrs. Brooks' service, friendship, and dedication, and we will deeply miss her! Best of luck in your future endeavors, Mrs. Brooks! Mrs. Marianne Della Serra, Patrick McGaheran School's full-time secretary, will be retiring at the end of June. She began working in the district in 2005 at Spruce Run School. When the district transitioned to four buildings in 2007, Mrs. Della Serra moved to PMG. Throughout her time in district, Mrs. Della Serra has been dedicated to families, students and staff, acting in a highly professional, friendly, and positive manner. Her role encompasses so many areas, including, finances, student registration, school security, personnel matters, and student support. In addition to being a leader in the overall efficient functioning of the school, Mrs. Della Serra has also taken the time to help with activities such as the PMG Basketball Extravaganza, different fundraisers and student-led activities, as well as coordinating the staff Sunshine Committee. In Mrs. Della Serra's words, "I guess I am most proud of the way I took care of the people with whom I work as smoothly as possible, and I prided myself on being organized and keeping everyone else organized. I also tried to always be a friendly face in the office for staff, parents, and children because I was the first person they saw when they came through the doors. I am very thankful for all the wonderful friendships I have made and will miss the staff and students at Patrick McGaheran School very much." In retirement Mrs. Della Serra plans to spend lots of time with her four granddaughters and her 94-year-old mother, travel, and spend lots of time in her garden. Mrs. Della Serra will be missed every day, but we will smile for her, knowing how much fun she will have with her family. Best of luck with this new chapter, Mrs. Della Serra! Round Valley School Limited to three sheets of paper, four wheels, two axels, a straw and some tape, the students had an eggcellent time applying their understanding of Newton's three laws when designing both a safe and speedy car for the egg passenger. Great job, 6th graders! LAW FAIR NEWS! Congratulations to our Round Valley Block 6 Law Fair Team! Their case, Digging Disaster, received an Honorable Mention from the NJ Bar Foundation. Students will have an opportunity to turn the case into a skit and perform it at the NJ State Law Center at Rutgers University on May 24. The students will also be recognized by the Hunterdon County Law Bar. GOOGLE EXPEDITIONS! 5th graders took a Google Expedition trip to Egypt. There they saw the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. What a way to travel! Clinton Township Middle School Our very first CTMS TREP$ Marketplace was a huge success! We had 60 middle school entrepreneurs participate, and each student designed produced and sold items at the market. Some of the students worked alone and some had a business partner, but all students wrote business plans, tracked expenses and revenues and practiced sales skills in a real marketplace setting. We hope to hold another TREP$ Marketplace next year and we hope that you will plan to join us! Groundbreaking Work Day at CTMS Saturday, May 5, from 8:00 am - noon! C T M S s t a f f a n d s t u d e n t s a r e busy preparing for a courtyard garden transformation! This garden space is intended to be a place for school and community groups to gather. It will feature plants, artwork, pathways and seating areas. The Garden Club has held several plant sales for funding, and this bridge is one of our first donations! We would like to invite community seniors and veterans to join us in this project. We are also taking donations of new or gently used garden supplies. Please contact Diane Cormican for more information and/or a copy of our wish list at: dcormican@ctsdnj.org or call 908.238.9141, ext. 100. Clinton Township School District Mission Statement: The Clinton Township School District, in partnership with the community, achieves excellence for each child by ensuring a meaningful and challenging educational experience in a supportive environment; developing life-long learners who are responsible and productive citizens. Top photos: Sixth Graders learn about Newton's three laws while creating cars for egg passengers! Below: Fifth Graders travel to Egypt... virtually!

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