School Days Students make a difference Students in the Let's Make a Difference Club at Pope John XXIII Regional Catholic School in Ocean Township, led by grade six teacher Tracie Keenan, have been busy collecting food for various organizations. At the start of the year, the club launched a cereal drive for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. To date, more than 70 pounds of cereal have been donated. During November, the club held a school-wide food drive for essential holiday meal items. Approximately 10 large boxes of food and money to purchase turkeys were donated to the food pantry of Our Lady of Providence Church in Bradley Beach. Through the efforts of the club and the entire school community, many people in need of food were able to enjoy a holiday meal. Girls team bowls over competition During the holiday break, the Long Branch High School girls varsity bowling team finished second in the Red Raider Holiday Classic hosted by Keyport High School. The Green Wave bowlers lost in the final frame to St. John Vianney, who finished in first place at the tournament. The Long Branch girls team finished just 20 pins behind the champions, placing them second in the tournament overall. This marks the first time in many years that the Long Branch girls bowling team has placed in any tournament. In non-tournament action the girls are undefeated at 5-0. Starting members of the team are Lyndsey DiGuimi, Kaylie Kerecman, Jamie Dalton, Adrianna Rosamilia, and Kaitlin Schaubert. Substitutes are Michelle Henderson, Desiree McKnight, Krystal Johnson and Dominique Johnson. Head coach is Linda Mango. Pennies from heaven Morris Avenue School students got into the holiday spirit of giving by collecting $201.24 in coins at their school to help children in need. The coins were taken to the Commerce Bank of West Long Branch by Jean Buckley's preschool class and counted at the Penny Arcade. The money was donated to the Wave of Hope Foundation of the Long Branch Public Schools which gives a helping hand to families coping with disasters, medical emergencies and other situations. School Days Kindergarten: a wonderful place to be 'Classroom Close-up, NJ" on NJN Public Television will feature a visit with New Jersey Teacher of the Year Karen Ginty on Monday, Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 3, at 9 a.m. A kindergarten teacher at Monmouth Beach Elementary School, Ginty has spent her entire 33-year career teaching kindergarten at the school. On the public television program, she shares the creative approaches she uses to excite her students about learning. Classroom Close-up, NJ is a co-production of NJN and the New Jersey Education Association. The segment is also available via video streaming at www.njn.net after the original broadcast. Impact of No Child Left Behind The documentary film "No Child Left Behind" will be screened Sunday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park. Admission is $5 and a portion of the proceeds will fund educational scholarships. New York University filmmaker Lerone Wilson's documentary "No Child Left Behind" explores the legislation that is having an impact on teachers and students across the country and changing the landscape of public education. Wilson was introduced to the controversy while serving as a tutor at New York City's P.S. 217. For more information, contact JCC Adult Program Director Lori Schneider at (732) 531-9100 ext. 122. Art, shop classes partner for nutcracker project Long Branch High School students made 51 nutcrackers as part of a wood sculpture project in Ighigena Nicas' Art I classes. Ted Hall, the industrial technology teacher at the high school, assisted by constructing a 21¼2-foot-tall wood nutcracker model. Wood shop students cut out the parts, which were then put together, sanded and painted by students in the art class. School Days is a new feature in the Atlanticville that will showcase school life, including upcoming events, special programs, awards, performances, art exhibits, community service and any other noteworthy happenings at public and private schools. Sporting events will continue to be covered in the sports section of the newspaper. Press releases can be faxed to (732) 870-6089 or e-mailed to hubeditor@gmnews.com. Please put "School Days" in the subject line along with the name and town of the school. Digital images accompanying announcements should be e-mailed in JPG, high-resolution format.