March 2025 Wrap-Up

As a friendly reminder, the Board of Education has approved updates to the current-year school calendar, to reflect the return of unused snow days.

SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025

for both students and staff; and

SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2025

for both students and staff.

We are thrilled to share that our very own School Business Administrator, Ms. Corey Lowell, has been named the 2024-2025 New Jersey School Business Administrator of the Year!

While much of a business administrator's work happens behind the scenes, evidence of Ms. Lowell's expertise, dedication, and care are visible all around us! Here are just a few recent ways that her leadership has benefitted our schools:

• She worked closely with the Board and the Superintendent to expand preschool in West Long Branch, transforming our half-day program into a full-day, free, high-quality experience for families.
• She sought and secured a Local Recreation Improvement grant to partially fund the beautiful new playground at BME. She also took a lead role in making sure it would be accessible, fun, and beautiful for our students.
• She initiated and oversaw a district-wide lighting upgrade which not only brightened our classrooms and hallways but also generated significant cost savings - just in time to offset rising energy costs.
  
  

One of the things that distinguishes her the most is her approach to fiscal leadership. She is deeply connected to our schools' mission and continually seeks new opportunities to enhance our district. She is knowledgeable and experienced, and also creative and committed to finding a way to "make it happen." Her vision and dedication are making a lasting difference in our schools, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her in West Long Branch.

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Lowell on this well-deserved recognition!! WLB is so proud of you!!

5th grade student leaders initiated a "Lucky to Be Me" positive affirmation project last month. At lunch and recess, fifth grade students were invited to decorate a clover with self-affirmations, and encouraged to post it in a place that will be a positive reminder to them!

Mrs. Levine was happy to visit classrooms at BME during Read Across America week to read a book about kindness. One of her most important priorities since starting in December has been to get to know our students, teachers, and families. She thanks all the classes and teachers for making her feel so welcome, and for giving her an opportunity to share her love of reading with our students!

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate neurodiversity and promote inclusion for all. To show their support, dozens of district staff members purchased and proudly wore Autism Acceptance shirts on April 1st and will continue wearing them throughout the month. This collective effort is just one way to help raise awareness and foster a culture of understanding, acceptance, and support for our neurodivergent students and community members.

On Monday, April 1st, our district BCBA provided a parent presentation entitled, "Mastering the Subtle Art of Influence: Engaging Kids Without Them Knowing." Thank you to the parents who came to our morning and evening sessions, we hope you took away new insights and strategies to support positive behaviors at home! Great job, Ms. Ascenzo!!

If you weren't able to join us, we hope you'll keep an eye out for more parent presentations yet to come (like the Minding Your Mind presentation below, for example!)

And please feel free to give us ideas and feedback regarding topics you'd like to learn more about!

This is a time to prioritize well-being, break the stigma, and celebrate brain health! Our dedicated counselors are preparing a series of engaging events focused on mindfulness, self-care, and mental wellness. From stress management workshops to interactive discussions and wellness activities, we invite you to join us in fostering a supportive and healthy community. Let's work together to promote mental resilience and remind everyone—mental health matters! Stay tuned for event details and ways to get involved. 💙🧠 #MentalHealthAwareness #BrainHealth #YouMatter

West Long Branch is partnering with Minding Your Mind to facilitate a two-part mental health presentation.

Student Presentation - May 15th (during the school day)

Students in grades 5-8 will have the opportunity to hear a story of hope and perseverance from Colin, a young man who has struggled with, and eventually overcome, mental health difficulties.

Click HERE for a speaker biography.

Parent Presentation - May 15th (in the evening at 6:00 PM)

That same evening, Colin and another presenter from Minding Your Mind will lead a parent-focused presentation called "Just Talk About It." This presentation will provide parents with an overview of the warning signs of stress, anxiety, depression and crisis in adolescents, as well as practical strategies to support adolescent mental health and well-being and help them develop positive coping skills.

Click HERE for information on the parent workshop.

We encourage all parents and caregivers to join us for this important conversation. Together, we can foster a school community that prioritizes mental well-being and ensures that every student feels supported.

Once again, the Spartan Press members have outdone themselves! Click below to get a fantastic glimpse at all the FAS happenings during the month of March!

It is FREE to attend the event and see the student art show, but you won't want to miss out on all the other fun activities!

Click below to pre-purchase tickets for crafts, the cake walk, and much more! Your ticket purchases support the WLB Education Foundation and our schools!