345 SECOND AVENUE 404 BROADWAY
LONG BRANCH, NJ 07740. LONG BRANCH, NJ 07740
732-222-6464 732-870-1617 732-229-4398
JOHN VILLAPIANO, PRINCIPAL
CONTACT: Sharon Villapiano, Director of Marketing/Public Relations, 732-996-7972
New Seashore Language Arts Teacher Making A Difference
LONG BRANCH, October 17 –Janet Fischer, Hazlet, the new English teacher at The Seashore School, in Long Branch, is doing a lot more than raising the barre on the middle school language arts curriculum. She is teaching students how to become responsible local and global citizens.
Starting a Make A Difference Club as one of the new Wednesday academic electives, her class is lending a hand to many. “Students brainstormed ways to help and specific groups that need assistance,” Fischer said. “The soldiers, animals and the homeless were three all students agreed upon.”
So far, they have made desserts for Community Meals, which distributes dinners to the homeless. Started a school-wide drive which has collected hundreds of items for the Miltary. Are assembling Cookie Mix In Jars as a fundraiser to purchase holiday gifts for a needy family. And have a full blown plan for National Make A Difference Day October 24.
According to Fischer, as the big day fast approaches, the entire grade school will come together this week to do its part. Younger elementary school children will make six dozen homemade dog bones from oats and baby food to send to Husky House in Matawan and Purr N Pooch Foundation in Tinton Falls, for animals awaiting adoption. Fourth graders will make 24 dog toys for rescue shelters. And grades five through eight will donate time this Friday morning at St. Luke’s UMC, working in the thrift shop, soup kitchen and food pantry.
“I strongly believe that students, especially the older ones, need to really go out there and serve in the community.There’s nothing wrong with donating or collecting money for an organization, but it isn’t nearly as powerful an experience as physically working and seeing the reward on people’s faces,” Fischer said, explaining that she was raised to believe in her ability to make a difference.
“Although I knew that I could do little things to help others, once I started teaching, I realized that I could affect a much wider audience by teaching and instilling in my students the reasons why all people – young or old- have a responsibility to do their part,” she said. “I have taught many students over my 24-year career, and if only a handful of them have gone on to make that difference, I’ve done my job.”
Seashore Principal/Director John Villapiano is extremely pleased with Fischer’s initiatives. A long-time advocate of causes to help those less fortunate, he has been making a difference since his days as a Monmouth County Freeholder and State Assemblyman.
“It is a completely new experience at Seashore this year,” Susan Pearsall, Ocean Township, mother of a fourth grader and twin seventh graders said. “There are so many interesting and exciting things going on. I couldn’t think of a better school for my three children.”
Next up, will be delivering donations collected for the troops to Operation Jersey Cares in Raritan the first week of November in time for Veteran’s Day.Items collected will be pooled with other donations, and individual care packages will be made and distributed to service men and women in all places that they serve.“Seashore School families donated everything from personal hygiene items to a five-pound bag of Dum-Dum lollipops and two cases of diaper wipes!Hard candies and wipes are always a request due to the dry weather (and lack of water) in many regions,” Fischer said, adding that the students in her elective will also host a breakfast at Seashore for the Long Branch VFW November 11 from 8:30-9a.m., prior to a school-wide presentation by the veterans.
“I feel it is important that the military stays ever present in our minds whether we are adults or children.Maybe even more so for students, since they need to learn the sacrifices that have been made in the past for the freedoms they enjoy today,” she said.
To contribute to any of these causes or purchase a Cookie Mix In A Jar, call 732-229-4398. Cookie Mix In A Jar, decorated for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, are available in Cranberry Dark Chocolate Chip, Candy Shop Cookies with M&Ms, S’Mores In A Jar and Coconut Crunch Cookies.
The Seashore School, which opened in 1974, is designed for families who want a smaller class size and more progressive curriculum than their town offers, at an affordable tuition. From preschool-eighth grade, the curriculum includes advanced foreign language, computers, science and swim lessons, along with training in dance, music, drama and art. The approach to education is so successful that students win academic competitions, score in the top percentile in standard exams, are recognized nationally for achievement and typically gain acceptance into the high schools of their choice. For more information, please call 732-222-6464 or visit www.seashorecampandschool.com
Caption:
Under the direction of new English Teacher Janet Fischer, students in the new Make A Difference elective at The Seashore School are learning to become consciously aware of what they need to do to lend a hand both locally and globally to help others. They made desserts for Community Meals, which delivers dinners to the homeless, are assemblying Cookie Mix In A Jars as a fundraiser to purchase holiday gifts for a needy family and are working hard on school-wide initiatives for the Military and rescue animals for National Make A Difference Day this week. Pictured here, students in the Make a Difference Day Elective prepare desserts for Community Meals, and join with those in Science Teacher Ellen Fedosh’s Edible Schoolyard elective to start assemblying Cookie Mix in A Jars for the upcoming holiday fundraiser.
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