VHS grad Darren Ford shines at spring training

Darren Ford

Darren Ford, a 2004 graduate of Vineland High School now playing baseball in the San Francisco Giants Minor League system, is having a tremendous spring training in Arizona, according to VHS teacher and coach Mike Schneider.

Ford was a triple-letter winner at VHS - baseball, football and winter track - and was a member of two state championship relay teams. Ford was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Competing against major leaguer players in spring training, Ford currently has the second-highest batting average on the club (8 for 14 - .571), and leads the club in runs scored (8) and stolen bases (4).

Ford is listed on the club's major league roster, but that group will face 15 to 20 cuts by opening day, Schneider said.

"Darren will probably start the year at Double or Triple A with the possibility of getting called up later in the summer if he continues to play well," Schneider said.

Last year, playing for the Single-A San Jose Giants, Ford batted .300 with 9 home runs, 50 RBI and 35 stolen bases.

After he was drafted by the Brewers, Ford played on several of the club's minor league teams before he was traded to the Giants on July 20, 2008. He finished the season with San Jose, where he hit a combined .227 with two home runs, 34 RBI and 62 stolen bases.

Ford's statistics are available on the Giants' main Web site.

You can also see an interview with Ford on the MLB Network here.

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Three VHS swimmers join All-South Jersey Team

Vineland High School had three of its swim team members named to the South Jersey Interscholastic Swimming Association All-South Jersey Team at the coaches' association's annual end-of-year awards meeting.

Seniors Jerry Capriotti and Bryan Masilotti, and junior Lauren Carastro will be honored at the SJISA's annual banquet Monday, March 29 in Glassboro.

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Vineland reschedules spring recess

Vineland Public Schools revised its spring recess because of days lost to inclement weather this winter.

Under the new schedule, schools will close for the spring recess after a legal attendance day on April 1.

Schools will be closed on Friday, April 2, a legal holiday.

Schools will re-open on Monday, April 5.

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STAR STUDENT: Daniel McSwain

Daniel McSwain

Daniel McSwain is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

He is an 18-year-old senior at Delsea Regional High School.

He lives in Franklinville with his family, Diane McSwain, Tim McSwain, Dino Miliucci and Sue McSwain.

McSwain was named Musician of the Year in 2004. He is on the honor roll and Superintendent’s List, and is a member of the Drama Club and Math Club.

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

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State address affects local schools

By DEBORAH M. MARKO
The Daily Journal staff writer

School districts braced for the ripple effects of Gov. Chris Christie's state budget proposal with its $1 billion cuts to education.

Some were obvious.

The NJ Stars program that offers two years of free community college tuition to the highest high school academic achievers may not accept a freshman class in September. This means the 75 local qualifying students may have to make other plans or not attend college, said Maud Goodnight, executive director of enrollment academics and student support at Cumberland County College.

Others are vague.

Public school districts were told to expect state aid cuts of no more than 5 percent of their total budget. That could mean Millville will need to cut $4.3 million and Vineland has to slash about $8.3 million from their 2010-11 spending plans.

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STAR STUDENT: Sean Lopez

Sean Lopez

Sean Lopez is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

He is a 6-year-old first-grader at D’Ippolito Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

He lives in Vineland with his parents, Ray and Emma Lopez.

Sean was selected to be Student of the Month at his school in January. He loves to read and learn, and tries really hard to do well in school.

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

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ADK hosts scholarship fundraiser

Alpha Delta Kappa, an educational sorority of current and former Vineland Public School educators, is currently raising funds for its annual scholarship fund.

The scholarship goes to a deserving Vineland High School senior.

The organization is holding a Hawaiian luau as this year's fundraiser. The event is scheduled for April 24, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Vineland Lodge, Loyal Order Moose No. 434 at 187 W. Wheat Rd.

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STAR STUDENT: Cael Aretz

Cael Aretz

Cael Aretz is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

He is a 7-year-old first-grader at Collings Lakes Elementary School of Buena Regional School District.

He lives in Milmay with his parents, Chris and Brett Aretz.

Cael once again achieved Principal List honors. He received an average of 100 in all of his classes on his last report card. Cael was chosen as a Student of the Month in his first grade class for being a responsible student and hard worker, and for always being caring and courteous to his classmates.

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

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Three VHS teams head to Odyssey of the Mind finals

All three teams from Vineland High School qualified to compete in the NJ State Finals in the Odyssey of the Mind competition this year.

The students recently showcased their creative talents at the OM Lighthouse Regional competition at Ewing High School.

The state finals will be held April 17 at Somerset High School, according to OM advisor Sheryl Rasmussen.

"Our students worked very hard to come up with solutions in three mind-bending problems posed by Odyssey of the Mind," she said.

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STAR STUDENT: Julia Scala

Julia Scala

Julia Scala is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

Julia is a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Petway Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

She lives in Vineland with her parents, Gina and Terry Scala.

“Julia enjoys school and always does her best,” according to a Student of the Day nomination submitted by her school. She is on the Honor Roll with LEAP math and language arts. She has earned medals in ballet. One year she won first place in the SPCA art contest.

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

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STAR STUDENT: Michael Gluszak

Michael Gluszak

Michael Gluszak is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

He is a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Petway Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

He lives in Vineland with his parents, Wieslaw and Dorota Gluszak.

Michael was an MVP on his soccer team. He has been named to the Honor Roll at Petway School.

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

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ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Sara Leonelli

Sara Leonelli

Today's Athlete of the Day is Sara Leonelli, who The Daily Journal sports desk deems "Most Improved."

The Vineland High School senior swims distance at the school.

Leonelli became an integral part of the Vineland lineup this season, swimming the area's fastest time in the 200 freestyle (2:02.67) and second fastest in the 500 free (5:39.69).

She also dropped more than a second off her previous best 100 free (56.66), which led her to stake claim on the Fighting Clan's 400 free state relay, which placed 16th at the Meet of Champions.

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Eight positions cut from V’land school district

Vineland Public Schools' Board of Education voted this week to eliminate eight Vineland High School administrative assistant positions from the district's organization chart, The Daily Journal staff writer Deborah M. Marko wrote.

Seven administrative assistants will lose their current position effective June 30. They are: Michael L. Adams, Edward Benish, Madeline Galan, Erika Kirschner, Tammy Monahan, Jeffrey Perez and Eric Reissek.

Carol Rothman is also affected because she was to be appointed to an administrative assistant position that has now been eliminated, said Superintendent Maryann Banks. She will remain in her current VHS teaching position. Their salaries range from $60,592 to $89,650.

Administrative assistants have divided their time between classroom instruction and overseeing the administrative responsibilities of a specific VHS small learning community of about 400 students each.

The seven administrative assistants will remain district employees but in other capacities, board president Frank Giordano confirmed. They will be given the opportunity to move to other positions under N.J. tenure laws.

Read more below or here.

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Mark calendars for CCS open house, project fair

Cumberland Christian School is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, March 23 during the day and its Middle School's Project Fair that evening.

Parents and children may visit classrooms from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Teachers will be ready to answer questions and share curriculum materials during the day and in the evening.

Tours of the school will be available.

The Project Fair opens its doors at 6:30 p.m. Bible characters are the focus and the imaginations of 6th,7th and 8th graders the only limitation for this annual project fair that alternates science, social studies and Bible.

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STAR STUDENT: Nathaniel Smith

Nathaniel Smith

Nathaniel Smith is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

He is a 7-year-old first-grader at The Ellison School.

He lives in Vineland.

“Nathaniel has one of the largest vocabularies I have ever heard in a first-grader,” according to a Student of the Day nomination submitted by his school. “He’s also a math whiz. He can add a group of mixed coins faster than anyone in the class.”

Read more about today's Student of the Day and past participants here.

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