School Days Geography Bee winner Mitchell Ivanicki (center) with first runner-up Rachel Wade and second runner-up Blake Maheedy. GeoBee winner zeroing in on $25K scholarship OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Mitchell Ivanicki, an eighth-grade student at Pope John XXIII Regional Catholic School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. The school-level bee was the first round in the 19th annual National Geographic Bee sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Approximately 60 students from fifth through eighth grade took part in the preliminaries during social studies classes. The kickoff for this year's bee was the week of Nov. 13, with thousands of schools around the United States and in five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Mitchell, will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee March 30. Second-grade winners: Taj Fisher, Alec Booth, Diamond Washington and Cameron Rance The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the national championship May 22 and 23. Crazy Hat Day at the Gregory School LONG BRANCH - On Friday, Jan. 26, students and staff at Gregory School were invited to wear a hat to school and participate in Crazy Hat Day. All the children who participated marched on the stage with their class to show everyone their hats. Each student received a certificate for participating and winners were selected from each grade level for the craziest hats. Students and staff enjoyed a day showing off their creativity and sharing the fun with one another. Green Wave on the move LONG BRANCH - The award-winning Long Branch High School Green Wave Marching Band is traveling to Toronto to perform at Canada's Wonderland amusement park May 17 to 20. Members of LBHS Green Wave will travel to Canada to perform. The group has performed extensively on the East Coast and last year the band ventured to Ohio to spread Long Branch spirit to the Midwest. In addition to performing at the park, the students will take an excursion to Niagara Falls, tour the CN Tower, visit Skydome, and attend a presentation at the Ontario Science Center while serving as musical ambassadors from Long Branch High School. Students will be fundraising in the community to enable them to take advantage of this unique opportunity. For more information about the trip, contact Robert Clark, band director at Long Branch High School. Registration for kindergarten Feb. 23 OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Registration for children who will enter kindergarten in September will be held Friday, Feb. 23, in the Wayside School Auditorium from 9:15. to 11:30 a.m. A child must be 5 years of age by Oct. 15 to be eligible for school in September. The child should be present at registration. The following records must be presented at the time of registration: an official birth certificate (a hospital birth certificate is not acceptable); record of immunizations from the child's physician; and proof of residency in the form of a lease, deed, property tax bill or contract of sale, and a utility bill. For apartments, those registering a child must also obtain a residence verification form from the management office. Residents who know of any children who will be ready for school in September are asked to inform the parents of the registration. It is important for the school to have as many children registered as early as possible so that the school can plan for next year. Registration packets are available for pickup in the main office. Anyone who cannot attend the registration on Feb. 23 may take their child to one of the following schools to register, and their records will be forwarded to the Wayside School: February 21, Ocean Township Elementary School, Dow Avenue, Oakhurst. Feb. 22, Wanamassa School, Bendermere Avenue. For more information, call the Wayside School at (732) 531-5710. Pope John XXIII scores big with 'Souper Bowl' OCEAN TOWNSHIP - The Make a Difference Club at Pope John XXIII Regional Catholic School, moderated by teacher Tracie Keenan, held a food drive to collect canned soup for the needy. The club held a contest to see which team could collect the most soup. Students in preschool through third grade were the Chicago Bears, and grades 4-8 were the Indianapolis Colts. Unlike the real Super Bowl, both teams were big winners, donating two huge boxes of soup to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.