2023-2024 Back to School Newsletter
from the Office of the Superintendent
It is with excitement and anticipation that I write this letter to welcome everyone back for the 2023-2024 school year! I hope that everyone found time this summer to do things that bring them joy with those they love. In the district, we have been busy throughout the summer getting ready for a successful school year! Detailed in the newsletter below, you will see a lot of progress has been made towards the completion of referendum projects (some pics below) and we look forward to seeing these new and exciting learning spaces filled with our students soon!
Last week each school principal emailed some important information and next week they will send home informative newsletters with important information for a successful school year. The Parent Portal is also opening on 8/29/23 for student schedules. Bus passes were also mailed earlier this week.
As the summer winds down, the school revs up. Our custodians have worked tirelessly to prepare our schools, and their dedication is valued and appreciated. Over the past couple of weeks, empty classrooms have been transformed with welcoming bulletin boards as the teachers prepared to welcome their new students. We are all excited to greet them when they return to school on September 7th.
In the meantime... enjoy the final days of summer break,
Charging Ahead!,
Dr. Laura Godlesky
Welcome New Staff!
Lisa Cagliostro - Wolf Hill Nurse
Gina Confessore - Maple Place Special Education (Math/Science)
Annalesa DiLaurenzio - Wolf Hill Gym/Health
Jenine Dora - Maple Place Nurse
Emily Iannotta - Maple Place English Language Arts
Cynthia Jutras - Wolf Hill Kindergarten Teacher
Cassondra Runko - Maple Place Science Teacher
Rickie Lee Saybolt - Wolf Hill Paraprofessional
Erica Shaw - Maple Place Paraprofessional
Sydney Watkins - Wolf Hill Fourth Grade Special Education
Welcome Dr. Ken Londregan - New Oceanport Business Administrator
We are excited to introduce you to the newest member of our administrative team, Dr. Kenneth Londregan. Back in June, Dr. Londregan was appointed the Business Administrator/Board Secretary for Oceanport Schools. It's our pleasure to welcome Dr. Londregan and look forward to the contributions he can make to the district. He started his journey here on July 1, 2023. Dr. Londregan earned a Master of Arts in Education from Saint Peter's University and earned his Doctorate in Education from Rowan University.
Dr. Londregan resides in Toms River with his wife and three wonderful children. Dr. Londregan has extensive experience in the New Jersey public schools as both a teacher and administrator which has readied him for this new challenge.
School Lunch Information
Culinary Classics will continue to operate the lunch program at each school providing a variety of meals each week. The price for lunch will be $4.00 for Wolf Hill and Maple Place students. We recommend you use Pay Schools Central (www.payschoolscentral.com) so your child doesn’t need to have cash daily to purchase lunch.
If you require financial assistance, please see the letters linked below to qualify for free or reduced lunch. Alternately, please visit the district website: www.oceanportschools.org and choose LUNCH PROGRAM under RESOURCES for the forms that need to be submitted.
If you need additional information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your building secretary for clarification or additional information.
Oceanport PTO - Membership Drive and Upcoming Events!
As the PTO begins another year, they are asking that every family consider becoming a member. When you are a member of the PTO, your name and contact information are shared so that you won't miss any communication directly from the PTO. The district cannot share personal demographic information, so it is through membership that it occurs. Be in the loop, and join the PTO!
All information and sign-ups can be easily accessed on their website: https://oceanportpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
To get the year started, below are three upcoming offers and events from the Oceanport PTO. The first is a form for Bagel Half Days. Lunch is not offered on half days, so plan now and your child can leave school with a bagel from Bagel Masters. Order now for the September half days, or simply for the whole year! Secondly, locker ladders are a great way for your child to keep their locker neat and organized. You can order them online. Lastly, for our kindergarten students, the PTO will be hosting a playdate on September 5, 2023 at Charles Park in Oceanport. It's a great opportunity for both the children and adults to meet one another (and enjoy a little ice cream!).
Be on the lookout for upcoming events and fundraisers from the PTO. And, again, please consider becoming a member!
Communication for the 2023-2024 School Year
Newsletters will continue for the 23-24 school year following the schedule below:
Fridays (or last day of the school week)- From each Building Principal about Wolf Hill and Maple Place
Last Day of the Month - Monthly Update from the Superintendent
Quarterly - From the Directors of Curriculum and Special Services on Instructional Aspects for Parents/Guardians
Lastly, social media can be a great way to get a peak of the amazing things happening in our classrooms daily. Follow the district and each school (and some of our teachers!) on social media!
Commissioner Decision - Sea Bright
Over the past year, you may be aware that districts in Monmouth County were seeking to regionalize, with the possibility of including Sea Bright. Our District worked hard to stay whole with regard to keeping our children from both Oceanport and Sea Bright. The Board of Education set a goal that aligned to such, and formed an ad-hoc committee to support our efforts and gain an understanding of the wants and needs of our Sea Bright parents.
The Oceanport Board of Education would like to share the contents of a letter dated July
21, 2023 and copied to our Board Attorney, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has completed the review of the Amended Petition submitted on March 17, 2023, by the Boards of Education of Henry Hudson Regional School District, Atlantic Highlands School District and Highlands Borough School District, which does not include Sea Bright. The NJDOE approved the request of the Tri-Districts to schedule a special election to present to the voters the proposal to form a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade regional school district in September 2023, without the inclusion of Sea Bright. Although we fully anticipate further litigation as the elected officials of the Borough of Sea Bright continue their attempts to divide our merged school district, we are thrilled that the New Jersey Department of Education has determined that the best interests of the Sea Bright students and their families is to remain part of the Oceanport school community at this time.
We will continue to keep the community apprised as the litigation in this matter proceeds.
Referendum Update - Summer 2023
Wolf Hill Addition:
One of the most obvious projects was the attic addition at Wolf Hill School. Poor weather delayed this project a couple of weeks, and the abundance of rainy weather certainly provided us with some challenges. However, the new space is framed and enclosed and ready to be transformed into 5 new classrooms and student bathrooms. This project also needed access, so a new staircase and wall coverings were installed in the gym hallway. The anticipated completion date of this project is Winter of 2024.
Wolf Hill Classroom Renovation:
With the exception of a few classrooms that will be renovated when the elevator is installed in the next phase of construction, the majority of the second and third floor classrooms are or will be remodeled. Four of the classrooms have been completely renovated with new walls, floors, and furniture. The remaining classrooms are under the new attic expansion and will also be completed in the Winter of 2024.
Wolf Hill Portico:
Probably the most drastic change as you drive by the school is the removal of the Portico in front of the gym at Wolf Hill School. While this was not initially something we were intending to do at this point in the projects, the portico was deeply damaged and presented a significant safety risk in its current condition. Therefore, it was removed. However, a new design is in the works with regard to design and will be installed in 2024. It's not an ideal look to the front of the building, but we can rest easy that we have eliminated a safety risk, and know that we will be updating the front of the building soon.
Maple Place Renovations:
Maple Place was closed for the entirety of the summer due to the massive volume of renovations throughout the school. As you enter, you will be greeted by a brand new glass wall to our media center. It's a modern space with an open layout that will create the perfect backdrop for learning projects. In the rear of the new media center, a new G&T room has been created as well as two small spaces for small group instruction and our guidance services. In the middle hallway, we combined an office/closet to create an instructional space as well. The front hallway also experienced some radical changes as walls were moved to create equitable learning spaces in our special subject area wing. We are completing construction on a new science lab, art studio, technology lab, life skills kitchen/classroom, and Spanish classroom. They look stunning! Additionally, the faculty bathrooms have been transformed into singleton units and a new bathroom was installed in the nurse's office. Lastly, two small group instructional spaces were also added in this hallway, one by condensing the CST office and the other at the end of the hallway by the faculty room. Aside from punch list items, all of these upgrades will be complete by the start of the school year.
Audio Visual and Security Upgrades:
The District has also invested in audio visual upgrades throughout the district with regard to a new clock system, public announcement system, as well as security upgrades with regard to improved alert and communication systems.
A few pictures simply doesn't do all of the work justice. Check out the videos below for some progress pictures taken over this summer. There is no "finished" picture just yet....but we are days away in most of the projects!
8th Grade Fundraiser - Support the Class of 2024!
All proceeds will directly support the 8th grade to offset the cost of their end-of-year activities!