Hurricane Sandy

Sandy Make-Ups: 2013 Toms River Regional School Year Extended

Revised calendar includes make up days for time lost due to Superstorm Sandy

Students will have to wait a few more days for summer vacation this year.  Toms River school officials have pushed back the last day of school in 2013 to accommodate days missed because of Superstorm Sandy. The revised 2012-13 pupil calendar was approved by Board of Education members this week.  The last day of school for all students is now Friday, June 21, pushed back from the original Tuesday, June 18 date, to ensure that students complete the state mandated 180 days of instruction.  The final four days — Tuesday, June 18 through Friday, June 21 — will be half days for students, according to the district.  High school students will graduate on Friday, June 21, and intermediate school graduations will be held on Thursday, June 20.  The …

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SAT Participation Rate Below State Average Due to OCC Enrollment, Super Says

School district's relationship with the county college makes attendance an attractive option, according to Toms River superintendent

Participation in the SAT college admission test among Toms River high school students is below the state average, according to a recently released report. None of Toms River's three high schools met the statewide 80 percent SAT participation target set by the state Department of Education. Superintendent of Schools Frank Roselli said that is because many students choose to enroll in Ocean County College, an economical educational option that does not require SAT scores for admission. "If, because of the economy, our kids can't afford to go to four-year schools, they're saving their time and money by going to OCC. I don't think that's something people should look down on," Roselli said.  At High School South, 60 percent of students took the…

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Karen Nisivoccia-Campbell

11:36 am on Friday, April 19, 2013

Entertainment program? Where do you kids go to school? Mine have done the same boring field trip to the "Ritacco Center" year after year after year. Nothing else. You get what you take from your education. Some students excel and some are slackers it happens in every school district.   more ›

Police at All Schools Unlikely in Short-Term, But District Still 'Leader' in Safety

School district working toward tightening security

Stationing a police officer in each of Toms River Regional's 18 schools may not be a possibility in the short-term, but education officials said that they are working toward providing greater security at every building.  Members of the district's Super Safe Schools Committee again met Monday, along with parents and police, to outline what security work has been done and what continues.  "We want to assure each and every one of our parents that this discussion does not end this evening," said Assistant Superintendent of Schools James Hauenstein. "Every time we have the opportunity to revisit safety, to look at this issue, you have our promise that we'll do it." During a committee meeting in January, several parents said that they would like…

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Kindergarten Registration Open for 2013-14 School Year

Registration process can be started online through district's website

Beginning Monday, Feb. 25, kindergarten registration for the 2013-14 school year in Toms River has opened.  To make the registration process easier, it may be started online. The registration form is available here for incoming students who age 5 on or before Oct. 1, 2013. "Please open the form, complete (use your mouse to click into the fields) and save it to your computer. Once saved, please attach the form to an email and send it to centralregistration@trschools.com ASAP," reads a statement on the district's website.  A confirmation email will be sent, along with instructions on when to finalize the registration at the district's 54 Washington St. office.  Health forms, which must be completed and submitted with the final documentation…

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UPDATE: Superintendent Wants Added Security In Wake Of Conn. Shootings

Toms River Schools chief is seeking to improve security at the district's 18 schools.

After a massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Friday, Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Frank Roselli said he is looking to bolster security at the district's 18 schools and would like a set of recommendations within two months. "One of the things done during the weekend was to put the schools on high alert," Roselli said at Tuesday night's Toms River Regional Board of Education meeting. Authorities said Adam Lanza, age 20, shot his mother at their family home in Newtown, Conn. before killing 20 children and six staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, reigniting a national debate about gun control. Lanza then killed himself, authorities said. Toms River schools has had a "Super Safe School's …

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PICTURE: Students Raise $4,000 Toward Sandy Relief

An online friendship turned into a big benefit show.

Music can bring out the best in people and the response to Hurricane Sandy has proven that. Amanda Kacperowski, a junior at Monsignor Donovan, and Sara Brilliant, a freshman at Toms River High School North, were brought together from their interest in a band. During Hurricane Sandy, they discussed putting together a charity concert through Pier Pressure, a group they formed to organize the show. It should be noted that the high schoolers put together the event in two weeks in which they found a location for the show, promoted it and found the performers.  Six bands donated their time on Dec. 1 in a show at Intermediate East that drew 300 people and raised $4,000 for the Toms River Regional Schools Hurricane Relief Fund.  The bands were …

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Toms River School District Cost to Repair Bennett Bubble: $25K

Measure to repair the indoor track complex flattened by Hurricane Sandy approves school board vote unanimously

The cost of repair materials to the Bennett Athletic Center could come in at $800,000, but the Toms River Regional School District is hoping FEMA would pay for 75 percent of the cost after an insurance deductible, leaving the school district with a $25,000 bill. In a special board meeting Monday night, Toms River Regional school board heard from residents, Intermediate East staff and physical education teachers and coaches about whether to repair the flattened Bennett “Bubble,” which ripped as Hurricane Sandy’s high winds and power outages befell Toms River. The structure, on the Intermediate East campus, has lain flat since the storm, in what district officials said has risked the coming indoor track season as well as overcrowding of the …

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Toms River Regional Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Honors New Inductees

Toms River Schools Athletic Hall of Fame holds their annual induction ceremony

25 new members were inducted into the Athletic Hall Of Fame Class of 2012, which included the Hall of Fame Service Award winner from Toms River High School South, Coach James Christiano, which was presented by Superintendent Frank Roselli. "Christiano was known for being there for his kids, more than just a coach - a role model," said Roselli. The evening started out with Master of Ceremonies and sportscaster Kevin Williams introducing the High School South Masters Choir, singing "The Star-Spangled Banner". Roselli then gave his welcome to all the inductees, family and guests. The presenters for the evening were, Dave Carrell, John MacIntosh, Paul Barnoski and Brian Cerbone. The inductees were: From Toms River High School: Jack Milne, 1938…

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Ritacco Watch

Disgust, Embarrassment Over Ritacco Guilty Pleas

Toms River South junior glad it's over

It should have come sooner. That's Toms River High School South junior Ken Gaughran's take upon hearing that former longtime Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco pleaded guilty to corruption charges today in federal court. "Hopefully some pride and trust will be restored with the Board of Education," said Gaughran, who has followed the Ritacco saga from day one. "I'm actually glad he just pleaded guilty. It was dragging everyone down. He probably should have admitted it in the first place. It probably would have been easier." Ritacco pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Trenton to mail fraud and conspiracy to impede the IRS. He could face 11 to 14 years of jail time, according to sentencing guidelines. …

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Bud Ratliff

6:58 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

He's living the good life in Mobile, AL - if you want more info email me at gmacbowl1@gmail.com   more ›

Health Dept. Works to Allay Parents' Meningitis Fears

County health department, Toms River schools field more than 100 calls in wake of meningitis case at East Dover Elementary School

The Ocean County Health Department has received more than 100 phone calls from concerned parents, after a case of meningitis at East Dover Elementary School was confirmed on Monday, officials said. Health Department spokesperson Leslie D. Terjesen said department staff have been fielding calls all day from the parents, whom she described as calm and asking the kinds of questions that would be expected in this situation. The affected student, whose name nor grade were released, was tested after the school nurse took the student in and and interim Assistant Superintendent Joseph A. Pizza called the health department on Monday. The school was thoroughly disinfected and a letter sent home with every student and posted on the Toms River …

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