Superintendent Highlights Board Service, Student Achievement and Community Spirit at January Meeting
Nicholas Mistretta
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP — From recognizing the Board of Education’s volunteer service to celebrating academic, artistic and community achievements across all grade levels, Superintendent Mary McLoughlin’s report at the Jan. 27 Board of Education meeting painted a picture of a busy and vibrant school district to start the new year.
McLoughlin opened by noting that January is School Board Recognition Month, as designated by the National School Boards Association and the New Jersey School Boards Association. She thanked the Montgomery Township Board of Education members as public servants who “dedicate their time to the oversight of the school district operations and the well-being and academic achievement of all students.”
“Our board members take great pride in having an impact on the education of the children in our community and helping the district prepare our students to achieve their dreams,” she said, formally acknowledging and thanking them for their service to the district and community.
Science Olympiad Shines on National Stage
McLoughlin then turned to student accomplishments, starting with the district’s Science Olympiad team, which continues to compete among the nation’s best.
The team earned a second-place overall finish at the highly competitive MIT Invitational this past weekend, reinforcing Montgomery’s reputation as a science powerhouse. At the middle-school level, she noted that the Upper Middle School Science Olympiad team also placed second in a recent competition and will advance to the state tournament in March.
Dance, Creativity and “Unified” Performance at the Secondary Level
The superintendent highlighted the district’s arts programming, noting that the high school hosted its first-ever evening curricular dance performance.
The show showcased original choreography and performances by students in grades 7 through 12, including unified dance teams that bring together students of varying abilities. McLoughlin described the event as a “wonderful celebration of creativity, collaboration and expression,” and praised the student-crafted choreography and inclusive spirit of the evening.
UMS: Community, Competitions and CARE Days
At Upper Middle School, January began with community flex assemblies focused on students’ roles in maintaining a positive school environment. The assemblies reminded students of expectations and emphasized making school “a safe and fun place for them to learn.”
Students also participated in a series of academic competitions, including:
- The school spelling bee
- The American Mathematics Competition level 8
- Science Olympiad, where the team’s second-place performance earned the trip to states
Later this week, UMS will host its second round of CARE Days on Thursday and Friday. During CARE Days:
- Students will attend an assembly led by the Montgomery Township Police Department
- Participate in social-emotional lessons facilitated by peer leaders from Montgomery High School
- Conclude with an all-school rally celebrating the school community
LMS: Concerts, Books and a “Chocolate Wonderland”
At Lower Middle School, McLoughlin said January has been “filled with moments that highlight talent, creativity and spirit.”
On Jan. 5, the fifth- and sixth-grade chorus concert welcomed the new year with a successful performance that showcased students’ hard work and brought families together.
Soon after, the PTO-sponsored book fair returned, which McLoughlin described as “a wonderful way to re-engage students in reading.” She said the excitement around books and storytelling was evident throughout the building and helped set a positive academic tone for the remainder of the year.
Looking forward, rehearsals are underway for the LMS school play, which will transform the school into a “chocolate wonderland” inspired byWilly Wonka Jr. Students in grades 5 and 6 are collaborating to bring the production to life, adding another layer of creative energy to the campus.
VES: Service, Values and Song
At Village Elementary School (VES), McLoughlin spotlighted both community service and character education.
She reported that VES’s 31st annual Young Scholars Institute Holiday Service Drive was once again a success. Each class collected school supplies and gifts for a Young Scholars Institute student in Trenton. Fourth-grade peer partners helped load a van and deliver the gifts, an experience McLoughlin called “an impactful community service experience.”
With the new year, VES also reestablished and reinforced its Blazer Beliefs — the school’s core values and code of conduct. Students reflected on areas of success and set goals for improvement in 2024.
The school also observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day with classroom lessons, activities and reflections on Dr. King’s quotes and their relevance to students’ lives and choices. McLoughlin noted that students discussed the importance of kindness and service to others, both within the school and in the wider community.
Rounding out the month, the first-semester chorus at VES held its winter concert on Jan. 21, performing for classmates during the school day and for families in the evening. The chorus presented an impressive repertoire of seasonal music, and McLoughlin said the performance “made the entire community proud.”
McLoughlin concluded her superintendent’s report by reiterating that January has been filled with examples of student achievement, creativity, service and community spirit across Montgomery’s schools — and by again thanking the Board of Education for its ongoing role in supporting that work.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com