Schools

Matawan Regional Freshmen Finish Year With Community Service Effort

The students cleaned parks throughout Aberdeen Township on May 18

Armed with plastic bags and gloves, over 230 freshmen took to the many parks scattered throughout Aberdeen Township in an effort to tidy them up before Memorial Day.

Students were split into five teams and tasked with cleaning Cliffwood Beach Park, Ross Field, V.F.W. Park, Midland Park, Guisti Field, Tarhune Park and several pocket parks in Strathmore.

The community service event was the capstone of the Freshmen Academy, a new initiative implemented in August 2011 to increase academic achievement, increase attendance, and improve attitude and behavior during an important transitional period in the young adults' lives.

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The program is also designed to build a strong community bond between the students, their teachers and the high school community, explained ninth grade counselor Kristina Holmes. Each marking period has a theme, which teachers come up with during their Professional Learning Community meetings, and the theme for the fourth marking period was "crossing the finish line."

"It was really nice. They're crossing the finish line, not only by completing their first year of high school, which is a huge transition, but also by giving back to the community," Holmes said.

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Holmes contacted the township to see what type of volunteer work would benefit them the most, and Public Works Director Robert Brady suggested the parks since Memorial Day is quickly approaching. The township even donated the garbage bags and gloves to the freshmen class, Holmes said.

The students have been involved in community service throughout the year, but this was a way to thank the community for their support and build a lasting appreciation for volunteerism, said Mike Wells, MRHS assistant principal.

"We're giving the student population the chance to offer the skills they've learned back to the community and nurturing habits of community and volunteerism," said Wells.

Freshmen Angelina Barbazote and Darina Buzanova were part of the group tasked with tidying up Cliffwood Beach Park and the Veteran's Memorial Park.

"I think it helps a lot," said Buzanova.

"The beach is a place where everybody goes, so its nice to be cleaning it up," said Barbazote.

Their group scoured both parks, removing cans, bottles and other litter left behind by visitors. A group of students also repaired a fallen down fence along the dunes at Cliffwood Beach Park.

"We wanted to finish the year strong on a positive note," said Wells. "We've had a lot of success this year."

According to a preliminary mid-year report on the academy, in comparison to the first half of the Class of 2014's freshman year, there have been 26 fewer (84% fewer) major student infractions and 86 fewer (28% fewer) total student failures.

"This data is very promising, and it is a reflection of the dedication and commitment of our administration, faculty and staff," Healy said .

The program is still in its infancy, but Holmes is excited to see how it develops in the future.

"I'm brand new to this idea of the Freshmen Academy. I love the structure of it," Holmes said, explaining that it helps to open the lines of communication between the guidance office, teachers, students and parents for early intervention and character development.

After a day of volunteering in the parks, the freshmen celebrated their service and their first year as high school students with a luncheon on the football field.


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