The COnnection
MARSD Central Office Newsletter April/May 2018
A Message from the Superintendent - Dr. Majka
As the school year quickly approaches the end, make note of the Promotion/Graduation dates that have been set for 2018. You can also visit the individual school webpages for complete details regarding these events.
Kindergarten Celebrations:
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 10:00 AM (Cliffwood)
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 9:30 AM & 10:45 AM (Strathmore)
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM (Ravine)
Lloyd Road School Promotions:
Friday, June 15, 2018 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM
Middle School Promotion:
Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Brookdale Community College
High School Graduation:
Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Brookdale Community College
New Director of Personnel - Message from Mr. Liebmann
In mid-February, I joined the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District as the Director of Personnel. My career in education has followed a less-than-traditional path. I graduated from King’s College with an undergraduate degree in Communications and Marketing. I entered the private sector workforce as a marketing manager for a consumer electronics retailer and then I moved to Cablevision Inc. as their regional Director of Marketing.
After several years working the business and advertising field I decided to make a career change. While still working a corporate job, I decided to attend graduate school at night for my teaching certification. I graduated from Monmouth University with a Master of Arts in Teaching and K-8 certification. I was then fortunate enough to obtain a full time teaching position in Brick Township.
I spent twelve years as a 7th grade teacher of ELA and Social Studies at Veterans Memorial Middle School. During my tenure in Brick I also taught during the evenings as an adjunct professor of English at Ocean County College. After several years in the classroom I decide to go to school again for my certification in administration.
I completed the NJ EXCEL program with my supervisor, principal, and school administrators certificates. I was able to quickly utilize my supervisory experience when I switched districts during the summer of 2014. I went to the Bradley Beach School District as their Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction. After four years of working and learning about how to run a successful district I made the decision to work with the faculty and administrators at Matawan-Aberdeen.
In addition to being an educator, I have been married for nineteen years to my wife Diane, who I met when we were both undergrad students at King’s College. We are very fortunate to have three amazing children; Patrick (age 13), Caroline (age 12), and Grace (age 7). As a family we enjoy spending summers in New England, kayaking in and around the Pine Barrens, and going to the movies on rainy days. All three of our children are musicians, and we enjoy attending their performances both locally and around the region.
Mindfulness For Your Wellness
Educators experience stress like many other workers in other occupations. Despite having a strong knowledge base in our respective content areas, we do not always know how to deal with our own stress effectively. One way to approach our emotional wellness is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness can be considered as a preventive measure for stress as well as a way to deal with difficulties with concentration, anxiety, and emotional awareness.
Keep in mind that healthy stress is a natural part of our lives. As educators, we need to be challenged in order to grow and develop. Healthy stress can be a motivator, however, toxic stress can be a detriment. Avoiding toxic stress, which starts as decreased productivity and creativity, eventually moves to frustration, then anxiety and finally burnout. Mindfulness, as a practice and habit, can give us the opportunity to help ward off toxic stress.
Mindfulness is often defined as being rather than doing. It is a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and surrounding environment. Mindfulness helps us develop the ability to be present and aware of where we are and what we are doing.
The benefits of practicing mindfulness can provide us with tools that will help strengthen our mental muscle in order to increase our attention, balance our emotional regulation, give us the opportunity to be more adaptable, increase our capacity for compassion, and ultimately help us be more resilient when we are faced with ongoing stress.
Here are some mindfulness activities that you can try.
What to do:
Incorporate breathing exercises into your daily routines.
Pay attention to your thoughts.
Journaling - write down your thoughts so you can reflect on them later.
Be aware of your habits and thought patterns.
Practice Yoga.
Try mediation.
Aim to pay attention to the present moment.
Don’t let your mind race, be distracted or judgmental.
Mindfulness is a simple stress management tool, however, it is not easy to incorporate all of the practices into our daily lives. Be sure to set aside time so you can introduce these healthy habits in a meaningful and productive way.
Ways to Maintain Your Passion For Work
When we first start a new job we are often very excited. We approach every aspect of our work with zeal and we can not wait to start new challenges. After many years of working, however, we sometimes need a jump start to reignite the passion we once had in our careers. How do we maintain the enthusiasm we once took for granted? Here are some tips to consider.
Be a mentor - The experience of being helpful and seeing others grow in their profession gives us a sense of value. It is very gratifying when you have the chance to share your own experiences and help someone learn.
Try new things - There are countless websites, blogs, videos, and social media platforms that have great ideas on how you incorporate new ideas into your craft. Seek out ideas and suggestions that give you a new way to approach how to design your classroom or work space, infuse a new technology into your lesson design, and be open to new ways to deliver your content.
Learn - Always be on the lookout for professional development. You can attend a workshop to learn something new. The best PD is something that engages your brain and gives you the opportunity to put what you just learned into practice right away.
Have fun - There is a difference between having a job and having a career. When you are able to look forward to going to work everyday and you enjoy the little moments of the profession, you find enjoyment. Remember to be positive, mantin a sense of humor, recognize the achievements and milestones of others, and celebrate.
Remember that you make a difference. When we are absorbed in our work it is often difficult to see the trees among the forest. Take a step back and reflect on what you have done and the accomplishments that you have made.
Take Your Child to Work Day
For many years, employees across all industries have recognized Take Your Child to Work Day. This tradition allows children to have some insight into what their parents do for a living, and it also gives children an opportunity to learn about future career choices. Take Your Child to Work Day has been an ongoing success throughout our school district. This year, Take Your Child to Work Day is on April 26th, and we encourage our employees to participate.
For anyone who plans on bringing their child to work, we ask that you consider your child’s age. Children who attend must be of an appropriate school age. If you plan on bringing a younger child to school with older children please consider the expectations that may be placed on your child.
We hope your child will find value in learning about your role in educating our students. We look forward to hosting your child and having them experience a day in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District.
Upcoming Events - Please Mark Your Calendar
Memorial Day Holiday:
Early Dismissal on Friday, May 25th
School Closed on Monday, May 28th