Jon Stinson is Coach of the Year. Submitted.

Jon Stinson is The Daily Journal's Coach of the Year.

The fourth season swimming coach at St. Augustine did everything he could to prepare the Hermits for a state championship run this season. He scheduled top out-of-state opponents like Germantown Academy and Malvern Prep, and nationally recognized teams like Peddie School, which gave St. Augustine (15-2) numerous opportunities to improve itself.

The tough competition helped the Hermits reach the Non-Public A state final, where it lost 86-84 to Christian Brothers Academy on a late, disputed disqualification.

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.

Here's a look at the competitions the kids participated in.

• Nature Trail’R: Teams design, build, and operate a vehicle that travels on a Nature Trail. On the way they overcome obstacles and do something to help the environment. Jessica Flitcraft, Blake Pescatore, Annalisa Ciro, Tyler Walder, Maggie Simek, Lani Bishop, and Melissa Garcia competed in this problem.

• Return to the Gift of Flight: Teams build aircrafts that can actually fly and complete various tasks during flight plans. Cori Schroer, Gina Trivellini, Mike Devono, Joanna Dounoulis, Stephen Coffee, Jasmine Strickland, and Kashen Morel competed in this problem.

• Column Structure: Teams designed a balsa wood structure that weighs no more than 15 paper clips and supports weights. These lightweight structures are known to hold over 1,000 pounds. The structure is made out of columns that aren’t attached. Cori Schroer, Gina Trivellini, Mike Devono, Joanna Dounoulis, Stephen Coffee, Jasmine Strickland, and Kashen Morel competed in this problem.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Giordano confirmed that none of the administrative assistants would go without another job.

"They have bumping rights," Banks said.

Those who will not be rehired to make room for a "bumping" employee must be notified by May 15, according to Vineland Administrators and Supervisors Association officials.

Administrative assistants Adams, of arts, and Reissek, of math, science and engineering, both spoke proudly of their small learning communities and acknowledged they understood the district's financial constraints. Both spoke of their respect for Banks and the school board members, noting no one envies the person who has to cut jobs or programs.

Board member Diamaris Rios cast the lone opposing vote.

Student Government Association members told board members they believe administrative assistants are a valuable asset to students.

VHS junior Aaron Berry called the administrators "the glue of VHS" because they hold everything together. Many serve as "father figures" to students. Berry compared cutting the jobs to "taking a father away from a child."

John Howard, a VHS senior, offered some cost-cutting options to save the jobs, such as consolidated bus routes and reducing some sports teams by merging freshman and junior varsity teams into a single entity.

Howard also voiced concerns that without the administrators the small learning communities would fall through the cracks.

The job duties are not being eliminated, Giordano said, noting Banks plans to meet with school staff to talk about how the responsibilities will be handled in the future.

Board members also endorsed Banks' recommendation to abolish the assistant-superintendent-for-business job title, currently held by Kevin Franchetta, and create the new title of school business administrator effective immediately.

Other job titles -- assistant superintendent for secondary education and special jobs, high school executive principal and high school associate principal -- were swept from the books. Those jobs were vacant.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Make checks payable to: Educators 4 Autism. Tickets are non-refundable.

Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

For more information, please visit the following Web site: www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/southernnewjersey/educators4autism

The event will include a spaghetti and meatball dinner, an Easter egg hunt and an opportunity to take a photo with the Easter Bunny.

Guests should bring a camera and an Easter basket.

Tickets are $5. Proceeds benefit Petway Players’ first musical, “Aladdin Jr.,” which will be presented on April 29.

The event will take place at Petway Elementary School, 1115 S. Lincoln Ave. For more information, call (856) 362-8855.

Amanda Haggerty

Amanda Haggerty is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

She is a 17-year-old senior at Delsea Regional High School She lives in Franklinville with her parents, Sandy and Tim Haggerty.

Haggerty is a member of the National Honor Society and the Key Club, is president of the En-vironmental Club and is secretary of REBEL.

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

John Hennelly

John Hennelly is today's Athlete of the Day.

Hennelly is a freshman at Delsea Regional High School.

The 103-pounder wrestles for the Franklin-based school.

Hennelly decked Camden Catholic's Chad Walsh to secure seventh place at the state championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Sunday.

The freshman fell to the overall top seed and runner-up in the state, Tyler Fraley of Colts Neck, in the quarterfinals. But he wrestled back to the seventh-place bout by pinning Jan Rosenberg of Morris Knolls in 1:24.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Center Court, Cumberland Mall, Delsea Drive, Vineland.

DETAILS: The celebration will feature stories, crafts and surprises as the Easter Bunny is welcomed to his seasonal home! Following the arrival celebration, children are invited visit and have photos taken with the Easter Bunny from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, through April 3.

ADMISSION: Free.

FOR MORE INFO: (856) 825-9507 or www.cumberlandmallnj.com

In addition to raising funds for the team, the event is also an opportunity for those in attendance to meet the players and coaches.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children under 12.

For tickets or additional information, please contact Karen Malatesta at Petway Elementary School (856) 362-8855or a VHS Baseball Coach - John Malatesta - JMalatesta@vineland.org; Kyle Jones - KJones@vineland.org; or Travis Amstutz- TAmstutz@vineland.org.

Doug Blubaugh and Shelby Wilson, fifth and sixth from left, with the 1960 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. AP photo

 

Millville youth wrestlers are getting a chance to learn grappling from two of the nation's all-time greats.

Olympic gold medalists Doug Blubaugh and Shelby Wilson will be the headliners for a three-day wrestling camp in Holly City later this month.

Blubaugh, 76, and Wilson, 73, won their respective weight classes (160.5 and 147.5) in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and have been actively coaching the sport ever since.

"I try to teach (the kids) what they need to know," said Blubaugh, who was also a NCAA national champion in 1957 at Oklahoma State. "I can't teach them everything, it would be too much, but I teach them what they need to know."

-- By DAVE ZANGARO, Special for the Daily Journal

Billy Wengert

Billy Wengert is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

He is a 16-year-old 10th-grader at Delsea Regional High School. He lives in Williamstown with his parents, Anna Ritorto and John Wengert.

Wenger is a Student Government Association homeroom representative and is a pole vaulter.

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

Connor Dean

Connor Dean is The Daily Journal's Athlete of the Day.

Dean is a senior at St. Augustine Prep who plays forward on the school's basketball team.

Dean picked the perfect time to score a career-high in points, netting 18 in St. Augustine's 72-53 rout of Bishop Eustace in the Non-Public A South semifinals on Monday.

The senior also grabbed eight rebounds to go with two steals in helping the Prep reach Wednesday's sectional final.

Sabater students help Haiti. Submitted photo.

Students from Sabater Elementary School recently presented a check to the American Red Cross for $2,059. for the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

The funds were collected by students and staff, said Jon Craig, a third grade teacher at Sabater who organized the drive.

"All of this money was collected in-house from a concerned Sabater family who wants to reach out and help others in need," Craig said. "It was really fantastic to see the generosity and compassion that people have for one another."

A giant check representing the collection was presented to Pamela Grites, executive director of the Southern Shore Chapter of the Red Cross, at an assembly held during the school's Read Across America celebration.

The Landis Middle School Parent Teacher Organization is holding a fundraiser at the fast food chain's Delsea Drive location, near Landis Avenue in Vineland.

Eat there between 5 and 8 p.m. and Wendy's will donate a percentage of its sales to benefit programs for Landis students. Just remember to say it's for the school.

For more information, contact the school at (856) 794-6925.

Auditions for “Into the Woods” will be held at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Middle School, Main Road and Chestnut Avenue.

Anyone planning to audition should prepare the song of their choice with a CD and be prepared to read from the script.

The following roles are available: Narrator, Baker, Jack, Stepsisters, Mysterious Man, Cinderella’s Prince, Steward, Giant, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Milky White.

The director is Bryan Mead.

Show dates are May 13 to 15.

For more information, e-mail tgp90@aol.com.

Molly Susan Guinan

Molly Susan Guinan is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

She is an 8-year-old at Petway Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

She lives in Vineland with her dad, Kevin Guinan.

“Molly has thrived this year by taking part in both regular education and special education classes,” according to a Student of the Day nomination submitted by her school. “She has grown both educationally and socially this year with the help of all her teachers and classmates.”

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

Paul Gallagher

Paul Gallagher is today's Athlete of the Day.

He is a senior at St. Augustine Prep on the swim team. He swims freestyle.

Gallagher swam to his first individual state title on Sunday, finishing first in the 100-yard freestyle in 46.68 seconds at the Boys' Individual Swimming Championships at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology Natatorium.

The senior collected plenty of hardware, placing second as part of the Hermits' 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays while touching fourth in 50-yard freestyle.

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

Library media coordinator Judy Davis reads to CCS students. Submitted photo.

Judy Davis, library media coordinator for Cumberland Christian School, is on a mission to put good books into the hands of children of all ages, according to CCS teacher Elaine Hannan.

Davis welcomed all kindergartners to an evening of reading in pajamas and slippers and with their favorite teddy bear.

“Teddy Bear Night,” another annual event at the school, begins in the library and sends students and parents on a “bear hunt” through the school’s hallways transformed into rain forests (complete with spraying water bottles that mist over passers-by), mud puddles, and snowstorms.

The night ends with bears everywhere in crafts, a movie and snacks, Hannan said.

Starting its second week, the Book Fair features books with clear moral themes and a Biblical world view, she said.

Families may visit Cumberland’s library at any time through Friday or anyone may purchase books here. Cumberland benefits if buyers select the school code of 40262.

Gina Cristina Schwegel

Gina Cristina Schwegel is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

She is a 6-year-old kindergartner at Petway Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

She lives in Vineland with her parents, Asher and Franca.

“Gina strives very hard to achieve her goals,” according to a Student of the Day nomination submitted by her school. “She acts and sings and has even auditioned for Disney. She hopes to be a star one day.”

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

Sarah Ann King

Sarah Ann King is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

She is a 8-year-old second-grader at Petway Elementary School of Vineland Public Schools.

Sarah lives in Vineland with her parents, Curtis and Lori King.

“Sarah is an ‘A’ student who is hardworking and takes great pride in doing well,” according to a Student of the Day nomination form submitted by her school. “She loves school and being the teacher’s helper. Sarah is in the middle of her fourth year studying ballet at the Children’s Ballet Workshop. She loves to dance and be on the stage.”

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

Each year the committee inducts a male, a female and a posthumous athlete.

Please send any nominations to: All Sports Booster Club, c/o Athletic Director (VHS South), 2880 E. Chestnut Ave., Vineland, N.J., 08360.

The requirements for induction are as follows:

- Participated in athletics at the high school

- Graduated from Vineland High School at least 10 years ago

- Contributed to the community in some way.

Deadline for nominations are April 1.

Hall of Fame inductions will take place at our annual banquet on Monday, June 7, at the Savoy Inn in Vineland.

Nicole Fresolone

Nicole Fresolone is The Daily Journal's Student of the Day.

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

Nicole lives in Vineland with her parents, Nick and Taina Fresolone.

Nicole is involved in many clubs at Petway: the Petway Players (drama club), cheerleading, bell choir and chorus. She is a very talented young lady, according to her school.

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