School Days

Students at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch prepare the daily newscast with the help of Michael Carrell of Mobile Productions.

Novice newscasters get hands-on TV experience

WEST LONG BRANCH - Stu-dents at St. Jerome School participated in "Lights, Camera, Action," a program designed to introduce students to the behind-the-scenes world of television broadcasting as well as give them hands-on experience.

The seventh- and eighth-grade classes prepared a newscast of the day's events with students acting as news anchors using cue cards to read the daily news for the school. Students also served as microphone operators and floor managers and the broadcast was recorded on a DVD for the entire K-8 school to view.

Open houses, special Masses, student-teacher basketball games and grandparent luncheons are just some of the ways that the 46 Catholic schools across Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington counties are celebrating Catholic Schools Week 2007.

EATONTOWN - Woodmere School held a Family Fun Night Friday, Jan. 19. The "fun" was provided by a screening of "The Wizard of Oz" and the children got to dress in their pajamas, bring their sleeping bags, and their little dogs, too!

This year's national observance, Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, has as its theme "Catholic Schools - the Good News in Education."

Some of the good news is that three new regional schools opened their doors for the first time, and all three, Pope John XXIII School in Ocean Township, Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands and Pope John Paul II Regional School in Willingboro, have all reached or come close to reaching their enrollment goals for the inaugural year.

MONMOUTH BEACH - Monmouth Beach School will host a Scholastic Book Fair Friday, Feb. 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. The fair includes a fundraiser, "One for Books," which raises monies for the school at local businesses.

The goal of the fundraiser is to bring more books into schools at the local level and promote reading globally.

Paul Bundac

Every school that collects money through "One for Books" keeps all of the money raised. The funds are used to help students buy books and improve the school's library. Scholastic Book Fairs will match the "One for Books" dollars raised with a donation of up to a million books to three nonprofit programs devoted to improving reading skills among children: Kids in Distressed Situations, National Center for Family Literacy, and Toys for Tots. Donations can be made at the Scholastic Book Fair on Friday.

LONG BRANCH - West End School held its annual spelldown contest Jan. 12. Each class held an individual spelling bee and sent two winners to the final. Thirty-three students competed for the right to go on to Monmouth University in March for the regional competition.

Fifth-grader Paul Bundac emerged victorious when he correctly spelled "beige." The runner-up was fourth-grader Derek Green, while Brianna Viera, third grade, and Victoria Cattelona, fourth grade, were in the final four.

The Rev. Aaron Gibson Sr., Alex Marmol and Carla Gaylord

LONG BRANCH - Audrey W. Clark School held an assembly honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 12.

The program was organized by teacher Carla Gaylord. The Rev. Aaron Gibson Sr., pastor of Second Baptist Church, was the guest speaker. The observance concluded with an awards ceremony saluting students who continue to exemplify Dr. King's philosophy.

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.