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Distributed periodically to all Manasquan residents by their Board of Education

John McLaughlin, President

Chris Haley, Vice President

Gary Abadrabo

Cherie Adams

Thomas Bauer

Christopher Brennan

Trisha Brown

Linda DiPalma

Peter Kenny

Christine Muly

Cynthia O’Connell

Karen Surgent

Geraldine Margin, Superintendent of Schools

Margaret Hom, Business Administrator

“A Learning Community Focused on Achievement ” Non Profit

US Postage Paid

Permit No. 110

Lakewood

CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT

RESIDENT

MANASQUAN, NJ 08736

Manasquan Public Schools

169 Broad Street

Manasquan, NJ 08736

732-528-8800

www.manasquanschools.org

Superintendents Message

Halloween Happenings at M.E.S. October 31st is always a very exciting day for all elementary school children. But the days leading up to the festivities of Halloween are particularly exciting for the children of Manasquan Elementary School. Weeks ahead, the students begin preparing for what their costume will be for the MES Annual Halloween Parade.

For over 30 years, the entire student body participates in the Halloween Parade. This year over 700 students were joined by teachers, paraprofessionals, and many parents. There are very few towns that come together for such a wonderful tradition. The MHS Cheerleaders lead the parade with the MES. Band right behind playing throughout the parade route. The Principal and Assistant Principal also march, in costume, in the front of the parade keeping their costumes a surprise until the big day arrives. The Manasquan Police Department safely

escorts students down Broad Street and along Main Street. How exciting it is for the children to march down a crowded Main Street waving to all of the spectators who come to see them in their costumes! The parade marches down Parker Avenue before heading back to school. The residents of Parker Avenue have always joined in the festivities by working together as neighbors to decorate the street in order to add to the excitement of the day.

Once the students return to MES, the classes line up behind the school and promenade around the field. Students then return to their classrooms to enjoy a Halloween party together, organized by the PTO Classroom Parents.

Yes, an exhausting day, but one that no one at Manasquan Elementary School would ever trade! Hopefully, the Halloween Parade will continue to be a well loved Manasquan tradition for many years to come.

As any resident of Manasquan knows, this is a very special place. Whether you are a member of a third generation Manasquan family or moved into town last week, you are keenly aware of the distinctive ambiance. Manasquan and the surrounding shore communities cherish their traditions and family-centered lives. Walking to school or downtown, biking as a mode of transportation to the beach, seasonal parades, highs school athletic events and the beach are all part of our lives. Take any one of those away and you lose a piece of what makes this community unique.

Like no other place on earth the students of Manasquan School District value these traditions, look forward to participating in them and keeping them alive for future generations. This newsletter highlights just a few of the many events that enhance and enrich all of our lives. Our students rely on these traditions to ground them in their beliefs and support them through difficult times. As adults, it is our joint responsibility to preserve these traditions for them and future generations.

Geraldine Margin

Ms. Craig lines up her class

Ms. Dillon with students; Isabel Garcia, Ileigh Duffy, Kiernan Hickey, Peytyon Rydholm

MANASQUAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“A Learning Community Focused on Achievement” WINTER 2010

Life Is Good

Warrior pride is nothing new for Manasquan High School, but over the past two years that pride has been tested more than ever. The school community has experienced the highs of tradition and winning athletic seasons, but it has also devastating tragedies with the loss of several students. Through it all the school truly lived up to its mascot of the Warrior by facing each struggle with great vigor and courage, but even a warrior can grow tired of continuous hardships and need something more to show him that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The light at the end of our tunnel came as a surprise rooted in the teamwork of Mr. Kevin Hyland, teacher and athletic trainer, and a student who lost his brother less than two years ago. They reached out to teachers and students who have been affected by the recent tragedies. With weeks of planning, organizing, and receiving donations; soon enough, the “Life is Good” campaign kicked off with a commercial on MHS-TV asking students to participate in an essay contest: in a 150 words or less explain how and why your life is good. Essays flowed in as more than half of the students submitted essays.

On December 11 the students arrived to school to be greeted by a “Life is Good” banner over the doorway. They walked through hallways filled with posters with motivational quotes, but the surprises didn’t end there. Many students found Life is Good magnets on their lockers. And as they went to class their teachers greeted them with warm smiles while wearing “Life is Good” sweatshirts. Everything was in place for the unveiling of the surprise grand finale, a whole school assembly.

As students finished filing into the gym, Mr. Hyland acknowledged that the school community has been through devastating tragedies, but “we do not need anyone to feel sorry for us… we are okay… we are warriors… LIFE IS GOOD!” Students were on their feet cheering and it was evident that those were exactly the words the students longed to hear. Then finally a “LIFE IS GOOD” chant broke out.

Mayor Dempsey proclaimed that “today and always, December 11 will be recognized as Life is Good Day for Manasquan High School.” Following, the president of the alumni association offered his eloquent and inspirational words of wisdom. Next, an original song written by a student, Gabe Fallon entitled “Appreciate.”

Essay contest winners were announced and the overall winner, senior, Inga Sinneck, read her essay. Her piece included a mesmerizing quote by William Barclay, “There are two great days in a person’s life—the day we are born and the day we discover why.”

The final surprise was unveiled as the small group of students involved carried out boxes and placed them in front of each grade level; they were filled with t-shirts… 1 for each and every student in the school! The students graciously received their gift and smiled brightly for class yearbook pictures.

The school day had ended—but the good vibe will never be forgotten.

—Jamie Congilose, MHS Teacher

MHS students with their “Life Is Good” T-shirts

Owen Grogan, Connor Burrus, Declan Tozzi, Mr Hyland, Dan Lambert, Thomas Burrus, Mr. McCarthy, Connor Reilly, and Mr. Coppola

2 Manasquan “A Learning Community F

MANASQUAN TRAD

Ma

A simple nine letter word with three syllables that encompasses everything that Manasquan High School stands for: TRADITION. Trand effortlessly go hand-in-hand. Neither would be the same without the other. November is one of the biggest tradition filled months at our srally, parade, bonfire, and Thanksgiving Day football game against Wall.

Students at MHS look forward to these events every year. They prepare for them, work hard for them, and feel a patch of sadnegraduated from MHS make sure to come back for these events and that’s one of the many ways we truly see the tradition and meaning of it home football game at MHS. For starters you can barely walk into a business in the surrounding sending districts without being bombarded wthe wall. On game day the cheerleaders and band members bring spirit to the streets of Manasquan as they parade through town one hour bhomecoming pep rally is one filled with laughter, hard work, and of course chaos.

From 6-8 P.M. on this night the Student Council members as well as the rest of the student body are invited to decorate their hallway and section of the gym. They are only granted these two short hours to get everything done so the school is always buzzing with excitement and anxiousness at this hectic time.

The pep rally occurs the next day with class competitions including a staff team. Fall sports team coaches as well as captains introduce their teams and speak about their season. The band plays our favorite songs and the cheerleaders perform an amazing dance routine. This year our annual powder puff football game was played on the football field immediately following the pep rally with the entire student body present. The festivities do not stop there. The annual parade takes place that night in which the football players, cheerleaders, and band members march through the streets. Each grade decorates a float and the students who build it also ride in the parade. Main Street is lined with families who for generations have come to be part of the festivities. The parade ends in Mallard Park and where the bonfire is up and roaring. Friends and family of the school and community gather around the bonfire and enjoy the heat as well as love that it protrudes.

Kids as well as adults wake up early the next day to get a good seat for the Thanksgiving Football Game against rival Wall. Whether the game is played at Manasquan or Wall the turnout is never one to disappoint.

Tradition makes Manasquan High School everything that it is. Tradition makes the MHS community and town everything it is. We thank tradition for making us who we are and everything we are. Tradition thanks us for doing it so perfectly.

—Samantha Matthews, MHS Student

Coach Cahill and his team prepare to walk in the Homecoming Parade

The students of Manasqdance-a-thon to be heldThon will take place inp.m. to 8 a.m. The eveSchool staff will benefit cancer. The mission ofchildren in our commucancer. This is the first dance-a-thon. Students participate in the event. Wchildren and their familbasketball and dancing. Pbased committees havememorable night a succecan attend this event orBattaglia (ext. 1669) or 528-8820.

SQU

3 WINTER 2010 Focused on Achievement ”

DITIONS!

Manasquan High School Band Day

Junior Class Hallway in the High School on Homecoming Day

nasquan firefighter at the traditional bonfire

radition and MHS are two words that always school. We have the hallway decorating, pep

ess when they are over. Students who have all. You will always know when there is a

with a Football Schedule hanging proudly on before kickoff. The night before the annual

quan High School will participate in a d on Friday, April 16, 2009. Squan-A-n the High School Gymnasium from 8 nt, organized by the Manasquan High children and their families’ affected by

f Squan-A-Thon is to bring hope to unity who have been diagnosed with

year the students at MHS will hold a must collect donations in order to

We expect to raise over $25,000 to assist lies. Activities will include volleyball, Preparation is well underway as student-e been working hard to make this ess. For more information on how you r become a sponsor, contact Mr. Paul Mrs. Pat McKenzie (ext. 1628) at 732-

UAN-A-THON