The MANCHESTER Times Vol. 30 - No. 23
In This Week’s Edition
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Manchester Schools Reopen For New School Year By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – The new school year has begun but there was some fanfare and fun involved in preparing for the first day of school. Several orientation events have taken place along with student recognition presentations and celebrations to get things started. Ridgeway Elementary School students and
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Photos courtesy Manchester Schools (Above) Two Ridgeway Elementary School students enjoy some popcorn during a recent orientation program held which introduced Sarah Thiffault as the school’s new principal. (Below) Thirty-five Advanced Placement (AP) students were recently recognized during the latest Manchester Board of Education meeting.
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their families came out before the first day of school to meet their new principal, Sarah Thiffault, during a school orientation event. The program proved that popcorn and principals could be a perfect match for the large crowd that came out and where students got to know Thiffault. They even learned what her favorite holiday was, her favorite color, her favorite sports team, and her love for chocolate ice cream. Students lined up for a Ridgeway Dolphin temporary tattoo, and spend time together. It was an after noon f illed with laughter they prepared to return to school. Manchester Township High School freshman tours were also conducted by current student leaders and 35 Advanced Placement students were recognized during the latest Manchester Board of (School - See Page 7)
Teens Launch Operation Warmth To Aid Homeless
By Stephanie Faughnan HOWELL – Two local high school seniors readily admit they’ve grown up in comfortable suburban homes, never having to worry about access to heat and hot water. But as Cory Reavis and Tristen Bennett returned to school this fall, they’re not just focused on their studies and college applications. Instead, they’re resurrecting a project they started as members of the Howell
Police Athletic League during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their initiative, Operation Warmth: Helping the Homeless Prepare for Winter, aims to raise funds and provide essentials to ensure the unhoused in Monmouth and Ocean counties can survive the winter months. Cory, 17, and Tristen, 18, have remained best friends since they first (Warmth - See Page 4)
Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Cory Reavis and Tristen Bennett’s Operation Warmth aims to help those living out in the cold.
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September 7, 2024
Scheduling, Staffing Changes Greet Students In 2024-2025 By Bob Vosseller MANCHESTER – School Superintendent Diane Pedroza is ready for the new school year. Schools reopened earlier this week and a lot of work went into making that return as smooth as possible. Pedroza, who spent most of the last school year as the district’s “interim” superintendent, began her permanent position in that role on July 1. She spoke with The Manchester Times recently about the challenges ahead and the excitement that she has seen among the district’s staff and students as well. “Transitioning to being superintendent has been busy but it has been extremely rewarding. I’ve been focusing on leadership overall and delving into the strategic plan and community engagement,” Pedroza said. She had previously served as director of curriculum in the district, a role she also served in while being the interim school superintendent but the district has a new curriculum director, Tracey Raimondo. “I’m always available for anything she needs as this is a new position for her. My style is collaborative and it really has been very seamless,” the superintendent added. Pedroza noted that the district also added Jill Moore as director of Special Services. “Both Jill and Tracey have a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience, great instincts and good judgement and are extremely professional and very community driven and it is awesome to have people moving in the same direction as I am.” “We are all student centered. We are focusing on how we can bring the community together, what we can do for our students and our staff and for me that is a real positive. We are extremely fortunate that our teams are focused on curriculum alignment and focusing on staff development, facility readiness but of course just like everybody else looking for new teachers and have welcomed a number of new educators to the district,” she added. Pedroza said, “we filled some key positions across the district and we of course still need (Superintendent - See Page 4)