Dear SBS Community,

School budget season is always a time crunch in New Jersey. The governor presents the state budget address in late February. Within 48 hours of that speech, school districts learn how much state aid they will receive for their annual operating budgets.

That timeline might provide a couple of weeks, or sometimes only a few days, to adjust estimated school budgets with the actual numbers. The consequences of lower or even stable aid can be far-reaching, impacting class sizes, programming, staffing and more.

Here at SBS

The Shrewsbury Borough Board of Education presented its tentative budget on March 19, and the board will hold a public hearing on the final budget at its April 30 meeting.

The board and district leaders were resourceful in forming a budget that maintained the same level of services while staying within the state-mandated 2 percent budget cap.

With the state facing inflationary pressures, a growing deficit and shrinking revenues, school officials are already anticipating challenges in next year’s operating budget.

STEM Club members guided second-, third- and fourth-graders through fun activities designed to make students think outside of the box during SBS’ NJ Makers Day event.

Students visited multiple tables, each set up with different engineering-based activities. Using a paper cipher wheel, students wrote their name in an alphabet code and realized the connection to digital coding. Another activity had students stacking as many washers as they could on tin foil “boats” before the boats capsized in the water.

“They are young and they are willing to experiment. They are willing to make mistakes and willing to explore,” said middle school science teacher Allison Wiesel, who co-advises the STEM Club with fourth-grade teacher Tanja Larsen. “If they like science and engineering now, the hope is that they will like these subjects when they are older.”

Mrs. Wiesel secured funding for the Makers Day event through a $500 grant from software company Bentley Systems.

Here’s the scoop: SBS was among the local schools and districts honored with a signature flavor at Nicholas Creamery in Tinton Falls. The custom flavors were designed for an Ice Cream Wars event, with the top school in the area receiving a donation.

As part of the fun, SBS students ordered ice cream from celebrity servers, including Mr. MacConnell, Ms. Salway and more than a dozen SBS staff members!

Everyone enjoyed the White Tiger signature flavor, made with marshmallow ice cream and an Oreo cookie swirl. Bringing the community together made the experience even sweeter.

Students in grades three and four learned about healthy boundaries during a presentation targeted for their age group. Fifth- through eighth-grade students had a similar assembly in February with a guest speaker from the same organization, 180 Turning Lives Around.

Both events were organized by SBS School Counselor Darianne Mastricola to help students develop important life skills.

“Teaching students about healthy boundaries is key to building confidence, respect, and strong relationships. When they understand their own limits and respect others’, they’re better at handling friendships, avoiding peer pressure, and communicating effectively,” Ms. Mastricola said. “It also helps prevent bullying and teaches them to stand up for themselves in a healthy way.”

During the interactive assembly, students were given specific examples of boundaries not being respected and discussed how to handle such a situation. The presenter also told students they should know a safe person to go to if their boundaries are not respected at school or in any setting.

Kyle Schulze, a reality contestant and athlete known as “The Deaf Ninja,” recently visited our school to inspire and entertain students! Our Tigers tested their ninja moves and participated in activities with Schulze, a seven-time competitor on “American Ninja Warrior.”

Teacher Josh Biringer even competed in a tug-of-war with The Deaf Ninja! Students learned positive messages about overcoming obstacles, including Schulze’s advice to be proud of their accomplishments.

Each year, the New Jersey School Boards Association in collaboration with the Monmouth County School Boards Association invites eighth-graders to share reflections on their elementary and middle school experiences, aspirations and recommendations for improving schools.

Madelyn Doody (pictured, in striped sweater) had the honor of representing SBS at the 8th-Grade Dialogue event, which was held at Market Place Middle School in Oceanport.

As part of the event, students were asked what changes schools could make to improve middle-school students’ experience.

Madelyn suggested a study hall so middle school students could start homework in school, allowing time to focus on extracurricular activities or just enjoy more downtime after school. Other student suggestions included a “chill-out zone” with beanbag chairs, regular check-ins with guidance counselors and giving eighth-graders the chance to try out high school band.

Patriot or Loyalist?

Fourth-grade students reenacted the Second Continental Congress as part of a Reader's Workshop study. The students began the unit by learning how to take notes from informational texts and focus on specific details. Using those skills, they began to create arguments in favor of the Patriots or the Loyalists.

After practicing how to debate, the students culminated our study with a reenactment of the Second Continental Congress. From presenting their arguments, to caucusing and then presenting rebuttals, students used their debating skills to support their arguments and ideas.

Plus, they got to wear some pretty fun wigs!

Our next spotlight continues with Ms. Kristina Kiely!

Can you describe your job?

School Social Workers have a variety of roles in the school. I am a mental health professional who supports students' social, emotional and academic well-being. I provide counseling and crisis intervention, and connect students and families with resources, as well as advocating for student success and fostering a positive learning environment. Additionally, I serve as part of the Child Study Team and help to evaluate students' social, emotional, and behavioral challenges that may be impacting their learning and overall well-being here at SBS. I also create and implement individualized education plans to address specific student needs, learning difficulties and social-emotional needs.

What is your favorite part about your job?

I enjoy working collaboratively with administrators, families and teachers to help support our students. I also enjoy working with a large age range from preschool through eighth grade. It’s so wonderful to be a part of a child’s educational journey and to see how they grow and mature throughout their time at SBS.

How long have you worked at SBS?

I have worked at SBS for nine years.

Why do you like working at SBS?

I enjoy working at SBS because of the close family-to-school connection. It is so nice to have such a close-knit relationship with all the Shrewsbury families.

Can you share a few fun facts about yourself?

Outside of school, I like spending time with my husband, two boys, and German Shepherd, Huntley. I like to bake, cook, ski and spend time at the beach.

Get to know the SBS Board of Education

The SBS Board of Education continually strives to enhance Shrewsbury Borough School through the establishment of policies, goals and objectives for the school district and represents the concerns of the community to the school administration. It also sets educational goals, promotes student and staff wellness, and advocates for students. Through this newsletter, we are excited to highlight our board members and their priorities for the 2024-25 school year.

In Q&A format, learn more about BOE Member Mr. Michael Galvin!

How long have you served on the BOE?
This is my fourth year on the BOE. I was elected in November 2021 and started January 1, 2022.

What do you do professionally?
I'm an in-house attorney for a tech company.

Do you have any children? If so, what are their names and grades?
Jocelyn is in sixth grade and is the light of my life!

Why did you run for the BOE?
I heard that SBS had unsuccessfully tried to pass a bond referendum, and it seemed like communication was a primary driver of the defeat. When I was in private practice, I was a public finance lawyer and thus unfortunately quite familiar with bond referendums! This seemed like a perfect fit and opportunity to finally use that bond lawyer experience to help Shrewsbury navigate a tough environment and successfully pass and implement the referendum. I was also interested in helping SBS post-pandemic and ensuring our children receive a fair and quality education.

What committees do you serve on?
I'm currently chair of the Personnel Committee and also serve on the Finance and Facilities Committee and the Policy Committee.

How have you helped make a difference at SBS?

I'm hoping our work on the school construction and expansion will be an asset for the borough and its children for years to come - a better, safer and air-conditioned environment for learning! I strongly believe that our school district is a hidden gem in Monmouth County and should be something that increases the desirability to live in Shrewsbury.

What are your top priorities for SBS this school year?

My top priorities are ensuring that the school construction continues on schedule and that our budget and finances are carefully scrutinized and planned. We have a great committee chair as well as a true professional in our Business Administrator, who leads our financial/operational efforts.

Additionally, I am borderline obsessed with artificial intelligence and the possibilities for educational improvements and personalization. Although I won't be able to do it this year, I am looking into proposing an AI “hackathon” where kids could use AI tools (e.g., Replit) to build games and applications and learn how to responsibly harness this upcoming wave.

How long have you lived in Shrewsbury?

I've lived in Shrewsbury for six years but am from Monmouth County. I graduated from Matawan, where both my parents grew up.

SBS leads the way at Kean University

SBS ambassadors represented our school at the Elementary and Middle School Student Leadership Conference at Kean University, with more than 570 students in attendance!

The students enjoyed collaborating with their peers on issues such as creating equity and problem-solving in their schools. Participating Tigers included Jordyn Lozada, Saffron Panossian, Adrianna Licitra, Joseph Howard and Adeline Campanile.

Pi Day was a formula for learning

Who knew that that the critical math constant of Pi also could inspire creativity?

SBS fifth-graders kicked off their Pi Day (3/14) celebration by filling out a chart with their knowledge of Pi – the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

They also watched a short video introducing its definition and key facts, and discussed how circles play a role in our everyday lives.

For the main activity, students created a vertical bar graph, with each bar’s height corresponding to a digit of Pi. This design resembled a city skyline, which they then colored to create their own unique artwork.

Your voice matters! Attending board meetings can be a crucial component toward the foundational growth of a community's future. The responsibility of the SBS board relies on feedback to continue representing the concerns of our community, keeping a check on the educational needs of our students, and creating policies to ensure SBS runs smoothly.

Every board meeting allows time for public comment and participation, and we encourage you make to your voice heard at any upcoming meeting to learn and be an active member of the Shrewsbury community.

Join us during this month's meeting: Wednesday, April 30 at 7 p.m.