Maple Place Weekly Wrap Up

Good Morning, Maple Place,

Happy Halloween, Maple Place families! 🎃 What a wonderful week at Maple Place! From Halloween festivities and classroom learning to exciting extracurricular accomplishments, our Chargers have given us plenty to celebrate. As we head into the weekend, I hope everyone enjoys a fun-filled Halloween with family and friends. For those heading out to trick-or-treat today, please remember to stay safe and make smart choices while enjoying all the Halloween fun!

As a reminder, there will be no school next Thursday, November 5th, and Friday, November 6th, in observance of the NJEA Convention. I hope our students, families, and staff enjoy the long weekend!

With the upcoming schedule, there will also be no Weekly Wrap-Up next week. Our next edition will be published on Friday, November 13th, when we’ll be back to share more of the wonderful things happening at Maple Place.

If you didn't see it yesterday, don't forget to check out Dr. Barry's Superintendent's October Update. Wishing all of our Maple Place families a safe, happy Halloween and a wonderful long weekend next week!

Have a fantastic Halloween!

Melissa Keiser

This week, our Mission Moments focused on our Habit of the Month, Habit 1: Be Proactive! Students explored how being proactive means taking responsibility for our thoughts, words, and actions, recognizing that we have the power to choose how we respond to the situations we face each day. Through daily reflections, students considered how proactive language can help us take ownership, how our words provide others with a window into who we are as leaders, and how we can respond to mistakes with a positive mindset. We also challenged students to rethink phrases like, “This is too hard, I give up!” and replace them with words that reflect perseverance, such as, “I can keep trying,” or “I can learn from this mistake.” By being mindful of the choices we make and the words we use, we can all take steps toward becoming more responsible, resilient, and proactive leaders!

The Student Lighthouse Public Relations Action Team is excited to continue sharing The Lighthouse Lookout with the Maple Place community! Through this monthly newsletter, our student writers shine a spotlight on grade-level projects, classroom happenings, and school events that capture their interest and enthusiasm—all through their own unique perspectives and voices. This initiative provides our young leaders with a meaningful opportunity to collaborate, strengthen their communication skills, and reflect on the experiences that make Maple Place such a special place to learn and grow.

Through their work on The Lighthouse Lookout, students put the Leader in Me Habits into action in a variety of ways. They practice Habit 1: Be Proactive by taking initiative and embracing responsibility, Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind by planning and organizing newsletter content, and Habit 3: Put First Things First as they set goals and manage their time. Most importantly, they demonstrate Habit 6: Synergize by working together, sharing ideas, and celebrating the accomplishments of our school community.

This month's edition features our seventh-grade Public Relations writers! Be sure to look for a new edition of The Lighthouse Lookout on the last Friday of each month. A special thank-you to our School Counselor, Mrs. Mason, for her continued leadership and guidance of our Student Lighthouse Team and for helping our student leaders find meaningful ways to share their voices with the Maple Place community!

Please log into the Genesis Parent Portal to review your child's i-Ready Inform results:

• i-Ready Fall 2026 ELA (Grades 1 - 8)
• i-Ready Fall 2026 Math (Grades 1 - 8)

Students in Grades 1 - 8 will complete the i-Ready Inform assessment again in the winter and spring. This assessment helps us understand your child's unique strengths and areas for growth in reading and mathematics so we can tailor instruction to their specific needs. By measuring student progress throughout the school year, this adaptive assessment ensures teachers have the insights necessary to provide personalized support and keep learning on track. It is not a high-stakes test, but rather a valuable tool to help every student reach their full potential.

Oceanport School District is pleased to announce our continued participation in the Governor's Educator of the Year program. Information and nomination forms are available at the link below. Nominations close on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

In addition to participating in the Governor's Educator of the Year Program to honor teachers and educational service professionals, the Oceanport School District is accepting nominations from the school community to honor a Support Staff Member of the Year. This local award was established to highlight and celebrate our non-instructional team members who have a profound, positive impact on our district daily, but fall outside the scope of the state program.

Staff members in any of the following roles may be nominated:

• Custodial staff

• Technology staff

• Secretaries

• School safety and security personnel

Please submit your nomination by Wednesday, November 4, 2026 using the link below.

Mystery Picture Graphing! Students put their coordinate plane skills to the test with a fun, holiday-themed mystery picture activity! Using their knowledge of ordered pairs, students carefully plotted each set of coordinates on the coordinate plane and connected the points in the correct order to reveal a hidden picture. This activity challenged students to practice accuracy, follow directions, and strengthen their understanding of graphing while adding an element of mystery and excitement to their math lesson. It was a great way to bring math to life and show how coordinate plane skills can be both educational and fun!

Our seventh grade scientists have been exploring the fascinating world of cells! Students learned about the different types of cell organelles and their unique functions before putting their knowledge to the test in a hands-on activity. Using their class notes and Play-Doh, students created colorful cell sculptures, bringing their learning to life in a creative and engaging way. This interactive activity gave students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of cell structures while making science fun!

Our 8th-grade scientists combined creativity and chemistry in a fun, Halloween-themed activity! Students created their own Shrinky Dinks and observed how heat causes the plastic to shrink and change shape. As they watched their designs transform, students explored the science behind heat transfer and how thermal energy affects materials. This hands-on activity brought chemistry concepts to life while giving students the opportunity to connect scientific principles to a fun seasonal project. Who knew learning about heat transfer could be so much fun?

On National First Responders Day, our 7th and 8th grade G&T students welcomed Fireman Pat for an engaging and informative visit! Patrick shared insights into his training and day-to-day responsibilities as a firefighter, giving students a firsthand look at this important profession. His visit was especially meaningful as students research this year’s Future City challenge: Urban Wildfire Prevention, Protection, and Recovery Strategies. Students had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions and interview Patrick as a primary source, gathering real-world knowledge to inform their research and inspire their innovative city designs. We are grateful to Patrick for sharing his time, expertise, and experiences with our young innovators!

Our Cadet Band members have been having a great time preparing for their first Winter Concert! From learning new music to practicing together as an ensemble, our young musicians are building their skills, gaining confidence, and discovering the joy of making music together. We can't wait to see them take the stage for their debut performance on Thursday, December 10th!

Congratulations to October’s League of Leaders. The following students were recognized this month for showing the trait Respect: Felix Lesser, Maelle Majeski, Laura Amarol, Louise Mendes Ferraz Guedes, Makena Alvis, Parker Saybolt, Joey Lagrotteria, Shane Degnan, JP Fernandez-Castaneda, Evan Ziemba, Hudson Shirazi, Bianca Emmons, Finn Cullen and Emma Carney. We are so proud of you for showing Respect and are grateful for the positivity you have spread through our school. Next month, we will be recognizing students who show gratitude.

This week, our Student Council combined Halloween fun with the spirit of giving! All students had the opportunity to participate in our annual Halloween parade, while those who donated a non-perishable food item were also eligible to enter the Halloween costume contest for a chance to win a Pizza Prize Pack generously donated by Enzo’s. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to this initiative! The food donations will be delivered to Lunch Break during our visit next week, helping us support local families in our community. Thank you for helping our students celebrate Halloween while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others!

Each year, Maple Place students join forces with Wolf Hill students and the Oceanport PTO for our annual MP Food Drive / WH Pick a Feather initiative. At Maple Place, each grade level is assigned specific food items to collect, which are then combined with donations from Wolf Hill to create complete Thanksgiving meals for local families in our community. Once all of the donations have been collected, our Maple Place National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students work together to organize the food and assemble the boxes that will be distributed to families. This annual tradition is a wonderful opportunity for our students to put the spirit of service into action and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others right here in our own community. We look forward to another successful year of coming together to support our Oceanport & Sea Bright families!

Our 5th, 6th, and 7th graders had a spooktacular time at last night’s Student Council Halloween Dance! Students came dressed in their Halloween costumes, hit the dance floor, and enjoyed a fun night celebrating with friends. A special thank-you to our Student Council members for helping with student check-in and check-out and running concessions throughout the evening. We appreciate their hard work in helping make this a fun and memorable event for everyone!

What a week for Maple Place Field Hockey! Our Lady Chargers had an incredible run, capping off a phenomenal season with a league championship victory!

The excitement began Monday with a 2-0 win over West Long Branch, with both goals scored by Addie Motzenbecker, unassisted, securing the team's spot in the conference finals. On Wednesday, the girls faced their rivals from Fair Haven in the American Conference Championship. In a thrilling double-overtime battle, Addie Motzenbecker scored the tying goal off an assist from Mariella Marucci before Marley Waterman netted the game-winner, assisted by Addie, to secure the American Conference Championship!

The momentum carried into yesterday's league championship game, where the Lady Chargers battled through regulation and into double overtime in a scoreless contest. With the championship on the line, Teagan McGough delivered the game-winning goal, bringing an end to an absolute nail-biter and securing the championship trophy for Maple Place!

Before heading out to compete for the league title, our Lady Chargers received a special send-off as the Maple Place school community lined the hallways for a celebratory championship clap-out! The excitement continued after their big win, as our champions were escorted back to Maple Place in true championship style, led by the Oceanport Police Department and the Port-Au-Peck Fire Department! What a memorable way to celebrate an extraordinary accomplishment!

A huge thank-you to Coach Meghan Harmon for her leadership and dedication, and to all of the parents, families, and supporters who came out to cheer on our Lady Chargers throughout the season. Your support helped make this journey even more special.

Congratulations to our Lady Chargers on an unforgettable season and a well-deserved championship! We are so proud of you! Go Chargers! 🏆

Maple Place Field Hockey celebrates the American Conference win over rival Fair Haven!

Starting with the MP Clap Out and ending with a parade through town and a restaurant celebration meet up with the Sun Devils baseball team who also won their championship game last night! It was a big day for OP!

Boys Basketball:

• Wednesday, November 11th - Interest Meeting (all boys interested in trying out must attend) - 7:45am - MP Gym
• Monday - Wednesday, November 16th-18th - Try-Outs - 3:40-5:10pm - MP Gym - Students must go home and return at 3:40 using the side door - Door 6.

Girls Basketball:

• Wednesday, November 11th - Interest Meeting (all girls interested in trying out must attend) - Flex/Lunch
• Thursday & Friday, November 19th-20th and Monday, November 23rd - Try-outs - 3:00-4:30 - MP Gym

Cheerleading:

To Be Determined

Please see below for Club & Activity Information:

Monday, November 2nd:

Art Club - 2:45-3:45pm - Room 130

Running Club - 2:45-3:45pm - Meet in Room 115

Tuesday, November 3rd:

Running Club - 2:45-3:45pm - Meet in Room 115

MP Alliance Club - 2:45-3:45 - Room 117

Wednesday, November 4th:

Debate Club - 7:10am - Room 109

NJHS Executive Board Meeting - Room 107

Chorus - 2:45-4:00pm - Band Room

Volleyball Club - 2:45-3:45 - Meet in Room 110

Thursday, November 5th:

No School!

Friday, November 6th:

No School!

NJHS Donut Days - Starting this Wednesday, October 28th and continuing each Wednesday through December 16th! Donuts will be available for purchase in the 7th & 8th grade hallway during homeroom!

Support the 8th Grade Class of 2027 by purchasing Turkey Trot Swag! See the flyer below for more details!

Please be sure to join the PTO this year. The Oceanport PTO does amazing things for our students and staff, none of which will be possible without your membership. Check out their new PTO website link below.

The Maple Place and Wolf Hill chorus students will be performing at the annual Holiday Extravaganza hosted by Oceanport Parks & Rec. The chorus performance will take place at 5:30pm. We hope to see you there!

• Monday, November 2nd - ADL Meeting - Maple Place Media Center - 6:00pm

• Thursday, November 5th & Friday, November 6th - Schools Closed - NJEA Convention

• Tuesday, November 10th - PTO Meeting - Maple Place Media Center - 7:00pm

• Thursday, November 12th - End of Marking Period 1

• Saturday, November 14th - PTO Turkey Trot - Blackberry Bay Park - 9:00AM

• Monday, November 16th - School Picture Retake Day

• Wednesday, November 18th - Board of Education Meeting - Wolf Hill School - 6:00pm

• Friday, November 20th - Marking Period 1 Report Cards available in the Parent Portal at 4:00pm

• Wednesday, November 25th - Early Dismissal Day - 12:10pm dismissal

• Thursday, November 26th-Friday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Recess - Schools Closed

Email: mkeiser@oceanportschools.org
Website: https://www.oceanportschools.org/Domain/8
Location: 2 Maple Place, Oceanport, NJ, USA
Phone: (732) 229-0267
Twitter: @MaplePlaceMS

Instagram: @MaplePlaceOP