MEMS Principal's Update

Parents, Guardians, and Students,

I hope this letter finds you and your families well and that you have had an enjoyable and relaxing summer. On behalf of the entire Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School staff, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

As the principal of MEMS, I continue to be incredibly proud of our school's tradition of excellence. That tradition is built not only on strong academics, but also on the relationships we foster, the character we develop, and the sense of community we share. Every year presents new opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing, and we are excited to begin that journey together.

Students, middle school is a time to challenge yourself, discover new interests, and build the habits that will serve you well throughout high school and beyond. Whether your interests are in the classroom, on the athletic field, on the stage, through the arts, in clubs, or through service to others, I encourage you to get involved and make the most of every opportunity MEMS has to offer. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, set ambitious goals, and learn from both your successes and your setbacks. Every day is an opportunity to become a better student, a better friend, and a better person.

Parents and guardians, thank you for the trust you place in us each day. The partnership between home and school remains one of the most important factors in a child's success. Together, we can provide the encouragement, support, and high expectations our students need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We look forward to working closely with you throughout the school year.

At MEMS, we strive to create a school environment where every student feels welcomed, challenged, supported, and valued. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to helping each student reach their fullest potential while ensuring that MEMS continues to be a place where students are proud to learn and families are proud to belong.

Students, as you will hear often throughout the year, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours!" I encourage each of you to choose kindness, choose effort, choose perseverance, and choose to make a positive difference in our school community.

Orientation will be held on August 26th and 27th. Please click here for more information. Please note that orientation will be held according to the community. Your child’s assigned community will be listed on their schedule.

I can only imagine that as you and your children prepare for the start of this school year, there is both a sense of excitement and perhaps a sense of trepidation. This may be especially true of our 7th graders. In order to help the first days of school function as smoothly as possible, we will be taking several steps to help our students make their way around MEMS. All of our 7th grade communities have been assigned a color:

• Alpha Community is Red

• Beta Community is Blue

• Delta Community is Yellow

• Gamma Community is Green

As 7th grade students exit the bus or get dropped off, they will be directed by staff to follow color coded signs / balloons to the appropriate doors and stairways that will lead to their community’s wing of the second floor. If for some reason your 7th grade child does not use the correct entrance or stairwell, there is no need to panic. All a 7th grade student needs to know is that on the first day of school he or she will go to the second floor. There will be staff to guide them to their homeroom at that point. Additionally, we will be extending homeroom and lunch for all students during the first two days of school. Students will be assigned lockers by their homeroom teachers. Lockers will be assigned after the first day of school.

We anticipate the parent portal opening on the afternoon of Friday, August 21st. Please note, you will need to acknowledge all required forms prior to viewing your child/children’s schedules. Additionally, the yearly Chromebook usage fee needs to be paid prior to accessing schedules. Bus passes will be available on the Parent Portal at the end of August.Click here for more information.

Supply lists and other important information can be found here.

Earlier this year, a new New Jersey state law was signed requiring public school districts to implement a strict, "bell-to-bell" ban on personal internet-enabled devices including cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets, during the school day. As we begin the year, I want to remind you of our cell phone policy, which requires all students to turn off and store their cell phones in lockers during the school day("off and away"). This policy also applies to all personal electronic devices, including smartwatches and wireless earbuds such as AirPods. Our goal is to maintain a learning environment focused on academic growth and free from the distractions these devices can create. We kindly remind you that all electronic devices must be”off and away” during the school day. If students are found using these devices the devices may be confiscated, and disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with District Policy 5516 - Use of Electronic Communication and Recording Devices.

Congratulations to Megan Watts, an eighth-grade mathematics teacher at Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School, who has been named the 2026-27 Monmouth County Teacher of the Year!

During her nine years as an educator, Ms. Watts has created a classroom environment that encourages critical thinking, collaboration, perseverance and confidence. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom through Student Council, Future Teachers of America, the MEMS Dance Team, school productions and other initiatives that foster leadership, creativity and a strong sense of belonging among students.

We are incredibly proud to have Ms. Watts represent the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District and Monmouth County. Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor!

7TH GRADE BASEBALL

2026 MONMOUTH COUNTY RUNNER-UP

Coach Anthony Cangialosi

The MEMS 7th Grade Baseball Team finished the 2026 season in second place in the division with a 5-2-1 record and made significant strides as the season progressed. The team showed improvement both individually and collectively, making it all the way to the championship game before losing to a tough Wall team. The team exhibited pride and perseverance throughout the entire season.

8TH GRADE BASEBALL

Coach Michael Cincotta

Assistant Coach Matthew Toto

The 2026 MEMS 8th Grade Baseball Team finished in sixth place during the regular season but then advanced to the second round of the playoffs by earning an impressive upset win at Marlboro Middle. The players all worked together in order for the team to achieve a successful balance of productive hitting, disciplined fielding, strong pitching and always playing for each other.

SOFTBALL

Coach Brad Goldberg

Coach Bobby Schreck

The MEMS Softball Team finished the 2026 season in strong fashion with a 5-3-1 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before being eliminated by a powerful team from Howell North. During a most competitive season, great progress was achieved both individually and collectively as a team.

TENNIS

Coach Marcy Linder

Coach Shea Sullivan

The MEMS Tennis Team showed improvement both individually and collectively during the 2026 season. The team exhibited pride and determination throughout the season and never gave up even in the most competitive settings. Their perseverance will certainly be a valuable trait in determining future successes.

BOYS TRACK & FIELD

Coach Paul Greitz

The MEMS Boys Track & Field Team finished the 2026 season in second place with a 3-3 record. Performances improved consistently throughout the season, both in terms of individual times and score, and also collectively as a team.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Coach Kim Mayer

The MEMS Girls Track & Field Team finished the 2026 season in second place with a 3-3 record. The team showed considerable improvement as the season progressed. With regards to individual achievement, Sophia Acquaviva broke a long-standing school record in the 1600 meter event by posting a time of 5:09.

MEMS DANCE TEAM

Coach Megan Buxbaum

Coach Megan Watts

The MEMS Dance Team had a most successful 2026 season. The team not only dances at several school-related events, but is also known for its outstanding performances at school pep rallies.

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, 19 MEMS students along with their advisors, Ms. Burrell and Ms. Danza travelled to Stockton State University to compete in the Jersey Shore Science Fair.

The Jersey Shore Science Fair is a prestigious event that has been hosted by Stockton University since 1975. It is a massive undertaking, attracting over 600 students from more than 40 schools across Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, and Monmouth counties. Our students competed across various categories, following the rigorous rules and guidelines of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The process is demanding; students plan and conduct scientific trials for several months. Student projects must undergo a strict safety inspection to ensure their displays meet international regulations before participating in three hours of intensive judging. During this time, students must remain with their projects to present their research and answer complex questions from the judges.

Our students' hard work and scientific curiosity was truly exemplary. Here are the placement results for our talented team:

• Biochemistry
  • 1st Place: Anuraag Chandra – How much energy is stored in different types of food?
  • 2nd Place: Anish Virupakshi – Which food waste creates the most flammable gas?
  • 3rd Place: Weishan Lutz – Does packaging affect the ripening of fruit?
• Chemistry
  • 1st Place: Rithika Mannem – How bright is your glow stick? Does temperature affect luminescence?
  • 2nd Place: Aathmika Bala – How do different chemicals react to different freezing points in water?
  • Honorable Mention: Vedant Srinivasan – Is it possible to use upcycled fruits and vegetables to generate electrical energy?
• Computer Science
  • 1st Place: Evan Roth – How can different sensors affect the accuracy of a search robot in tight spaces?
  • 3rd Place: Saveer Jambhekar – How can you help the elderly or disabled to receive timely help in case of emergency?
• Consumer Science
  • Honorable Mention: Swarnim Mulik – Does a sports drink provide more electrolytes than orange juice?
• Earth/Space Science
  • 1st Place: Advay Mittal – Do warmer seas make stronger hurricanes?
• Environmental Science
  • 1st Place: Veda Kuchibatla – How do different colored bottoms of a solar powered desalination affect its effectiveness at removing salt from water?
  • 2nd Place: Anay Patel – Can ferrofluids help clean up oil spills?
  • 3rd Place: Trevor Chong – How do you remove microplastics from water using ferrofluids?
  • Honorable Mention: Ayaan Patel – Can biodegradable hydrogels help conserve water in farming?
• Physics
  • 1st Place: Manav Surana – How does color affect heating by absorption of light?
  • 2nd Place: Aryamann Singh – How does the use of reflectors/angle of the solar panels affect their electricity output?
  • Honorable Mention: Anjan Allampudi – Does The Change in Windmill Rotors Help Produce Energy That Can Lift An Object?
  • 
    

Several of the students who participated also earned special awards after the initial fair. In a separate judging event, the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority bestowed their first place honors to Anush Virupakshi and second place honors to Veda Kuchibatla. Of the students who moved onto the Delaware Valley Science Fair, Advay Mittal and Rithika Mannem both earned Honorable Mention in their respective science domains.

Congratulations to all of our participants for their hard work, dedication, and incredible enthusiasm for science!