Room to live, learn, love, and grow in
Assemblywoman Beck, Sen. Karcher recognize school with proclamation
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer
The Millstone Township community has given its children a place where their ideas and dreams have more room to grow.

CHRIS KELLY staff The new Millstone Township Middle School opened its doors to the community for the first time Sept. 8.

The township's new Millstone Township Middle School, a project that took over three years to accomplish, opened its doors for its first day of classes Monday. The consensus among students asked to describe the new facility: "It's big."

The 138,562-square-foot school boasts 30 classrooms, six science labs, a state-of-the-art media center with a computer lab and a television studio, two gymnasiums, a food-court-like cafeteria, and a 1,200-seat performing arts center.

Voters passed the $3.1 million referendum for the auditorium and the $34.5 million school referendum that included the construction of the new school in March 2004, and in the opinions of students, parents and teachers getting their first glimpse of the school during an open house Sept. 8, it was money well spent.

Science teacher Beth Topinka, of Manalapan, said she is proud of the community for supporting education in such a phenomenal way.

CHRIS KELLY staff Students Casey Gregory, 11, (l-r) and Savannah Dziepak, 11, try to open their new lockers while attending the open house at the new Millstone Township Middle School Sept. 8.

"I couldn't be more thrilled with my science lab," she said. "We're all thrilled."

Her classroom in the former middle school on Millstone Road did not have sinks, lab tables, or sufficient project and storage space, Topinka said.

"It was a challenge to do experiments," she said. "We still got a lot done, but now we have the opportunities to do dynamic and exciting lessons with the kids."

Topinka said classrooms in the new school are all equipped with liquid crystal display (LCD) projectors so teachers can use PowerPoint presentations in their lectures and take full advantage of what she describes as "teachable moments."

"Now when students have a question a teacher does not have an answer to, the teacher can find the answer on the computer and put it on the projection screen for everyone to see," Topinka said.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Student musicians take the stage in the auditorium of the new Millstone Township Middle School during an open house Sept. 8. At right: Community members check out the cafeteria.

Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Donahue said that classrooms in the new school were designed with four computer stations each, and take full advantage of natural lighting and space.

"Students will have plenty of room here for learning, and the rooms are extremely functional," she said.

While showing students and parents an art room with 24 tables for students, a teacher's area, and walls lined with cabinets full of supplies, Donahue said there really is no comparison between the classrooms in the new school and those in former school.

The academic wing, which contains the classrooms, media center and main office suite, is apart from the community wing. A hallway containing specialneeds and guidance offices creates a division between the two wings that can be closed off when community and cultural events are taking place in the cafeteria, gymnasiums and auditorium.

The new cafeteria has three different serving stations, with sections for salad and both hot and cold foods. A grassy area located outside the cafeteria could ultimately become a courtyard, but this year students will not be allowed outside for lunch or recess.

Next to the cafeteria are the school's two gyms, which are separated by the boys' and girls' locker rooms and showers.

The school's store and music rooms are in front of the cafeteria in a hallway located behind the auditorium. The music rooms have high ceilings and acoustically treated walls through which sound cannot penetrate.

The auditorium, in the words of resident Lori Cuffari, "takes your breath away."

The facility has state-of-the-art sound and theater equipment, including an acoustic system of baffles that hang down from the ceiling at different levels to stop the travel of sound and to deaden noise.

Topinka's husband, Jerry, was one of the first musicians to be allowed to take the new stage.

"I love playing here," he said. "It's great! The sound is very, very nice. I think they did a really great job in the way they designed this place."

Eighth-grader Michelle Prendergast, 13, said the auditorium is her favorite part of the whole school.

"Just look at how big it is and how many people can fit in it," she said.

Prendergast said the overall size of the entire facility impressed her.

"It has two floors, a huge library, and two gyms," she said. "You can get really lost in here."

Eighth-grader Tori Armellino, 13, shared her friend's sentiments and said, "This school is really big. It has bigger classes and it's all new. The cafeteria is bigger and more open. Oh, and I like the PAC a lot because it's really, really big."

Seventh-graders Kevin and Nick Singler, 12-year-old brothers, had another word for the school besides "big" - "huge."

When asked if they thought they would be able to get around on the first day of school, Kevin said, "If I have a map."

The new school will use a color code and numbering system to help students find their way around, but the three grade levels have their own separate areas in the building, making it easy for students to get from class to class.

Kevin and Nick said the size of the cafeteria and lockers impressed them, but they were not happy with finding out that the school does not yet have a place for outdoor recess or athletic fields.

Their father, John, said, "The design and configuration is that there are no outdoor fields that we are aware of and nowhere for recess."

Despite these factors, John and his wife, Shawna, said the school is a great facility overall and they admire the engineering and ingenuity that went into it.

Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey said, "In the words of Doctor Donahue, 'Wow!' I think the parents and community are very pleased with the final product. I think the kids will be very inspired by their new school and surroundings."

Other government officials are just as pleased with the outcome of the project. Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-12) and Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-12) presented the school district with a proclamation for the new school.

"It was a nice added surprise," Donahue said of the proclamation.

She said the response to the school's opening has been overwhelmingly positive from adults and children alike.

Donahue said the school district had area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise the first flag on the school's flagpole and that students were the first to perform for an audience in the new auditorium.

Thankful that the community has created such a beautiful learning venue for its students, Principal Michelle Vella will implement a new program to help students keep it that way. REACH, which stands for Respect, Environment, Attitude, Courtesy and Honesty, is a partnership dedicated to empowering children as they become responsible, mature young adults and contributing members of the community.

"Through the collaboration of the students, staff, parents and community, it is our goal to create an environment that cultivates the core values of character education to be practiced throughout their daily lives," the mission statement states.

The program, among other lessons, will teach students to respect their new school by keeping it clean.

Donahue said studies show that children's surroundings greatly impact their ability to learn. Above all else, she said, the school will provide its students with the extra space they greatly need for proper instruction and inspiration.