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.

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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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Students model latest prom styles

Delsea Regional girls model during a recent prom fashion show. Submitted photo.

Delsea Regional High School hosted Prom Event 2010 on Thursday to highlight local businesses involved in the prom industry, said Tanya Mastrokyriakos, Delta Eta Sigma’s advisor and Delsea's Language Arts and College Preparation teacher, who organized the event. 

All money earned during this event will be given in the form of college scholarships for graduating club members.

Delsea Regional boys model during a recent prom fashion show. Submitted photo.

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ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Troy Cevini

Troy Cervini

Today's Athlete of the Day is Troy Cevini, deemed "Most Improved" by The Daily Journal's sports desk.

The Vineland High School junior swims freestyle for the boy's team.

Cervini made his first trip to the Meet of Champions as an individual this season, qualifying in the 200 and 50 freestyles. His best times in those events, 1:48.86 and 22.31 respectively, were dramatic improvements from last season.

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

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Sheriff hosts breakfast benefit for Project Grad

Drew Brosh, 3, son of the VHS golf coach, digs into his plate at the Project Graduation fundraiser breakfast held in the VHS cafeteria last year. File staff photo/Cody Glenn

Cumberland County Sheriff Robert Austino is sponsoring a fundraising breakfast for Project Graduation this Sunday.

The breakfast will run from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Vineland High School South cafeteria. The menu includes eggs, sausage, hash browns, French toast and rolls.

Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available from Debbie Gross in the Vineland High School North main office.

Project Graduation is a free all-night drug and alcohol-free party for seniors to celebrate their high school graduation. The location for this celebration is always a secret known only to a few of the organizers and never revealed to the students until their actual arrival at the site.

Threatened by state budget cuts, a variety of events and broad support from the community have been keeping Project Graduation fully funded for the past several years.

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‘Dance for a Cure’ for Autism

Educators 4 Autism is holding its second annual "Dance for a Cure" on Friday, April 9, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Heritage House in Millville.

Tickets are $35 and include a full buffet dinner, music for dancing by the band "Eleven Eleven," and a basket auction.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Autism Speaks Walk in Mount Laurel on May 22.

Dinner will be served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be a cash bar.

For tickets and information, contact Anissa Anderson at(856)297-1642 or aanderson@vineland.org; Christina Peters at (609)501-3849 or chpeters@vineland.org; Jacquie Campbell at (856) 207-5839 or jcampbell@vineland.org or Educators4Autism@hotmail.com.

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