Exciting news! The Lawrence Township Education Foundation has awarded a $46,000 grant to Lawrence Township Public Schools to extensively renovate the Lawrence High School Library Media Center. LTEF notes that the renovation will provide our kids with “a modern, multi-purpose center for enhancing skills in technology, literacy and collaborative learning.” Word on the street is that this new learning center will include a “juice bar”—no, we won’t be serving strawberry smoothies, but providing charging stations for personal computing devices.
During our animated and well-attended Community Conversation in October, residents identified four areas of concern: LTPS’s rising enrollment (and consequential facilities issues), athletic facilities and programs, Gifted and Talent curricula, and world languages. In response, Superintendent Crystal Edwards has convened four subcommittees comprised of interested community members and administrators, one for each area. These committees met for the first time in January and will continue to explore strategic solutions.
This month is marked by many honors for our staff and students. First, Pamela DeRiso, an academic support instruction teacher at Slackwood Elementary School, has been named Lawrence’s 2013 Teacher of the Year. DeRiso has been with us for 28 years.
Another honor goes to Lawrence Middle School, which has been designated a 2013 School of Character by the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development. Five other LTPS schools share this distinction, and three have moved up another notch to National Schools of Character. In another demonstration of stellar character development, 8th-grader Ellen “Nelle” Evans was selected as New Jersey’s top middle level volunteer in the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. She receives a scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Lawrence’s athletes are having a great year. Two of our swimmers, senior Peter Finnerty and junior Kate O’Rourke, won the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events at the Mercer County Tournament. O’Rourke has now been named Girls Most Valuable Swimmer for two consecutive years. Michael Jennings and Gordon Wolf were named Mercer County champions in wrestling. LHS senior Asia Dowers is a sectional champion in shot put and has qualified for the state championship.
And congratulations to board member Bill Michaelson, who has achieved the status of Certificated Board Member, a designation bestowed on New Jersey school board members who have successfully completed a wide variety of governance courses.
Laura Waters, Ph.D., is president of the Lawrence Township Board of Education. Her email is laurawaters6@gmail.com.
