Solemn Vigil Recognizes Prisoners & Missing Soldiers

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By Cheryl Conway

Close to 300 people came out to honor prisoners of war and military men and women missing in action earlier this month during The National POW/MIA 24-hour vigil at the All Veterans Memorial in Budd Lake.      

This was the AVM’s eighth year in hosting this annual vigil in recognition of the federally recognized day, observed on the third Friday in September. AVM volunteers, Veterans from various organizations, students and residents observed the formal ceremonies and 24-hour program held Friday, Sept. 16 through Saturday, Sept. 17. 

“The AVM opens their 24-hour vigil at 4:30 p.m. on the third Friday with a formal ceremony which includes the lighting of the vigil globe located at the POW/MIA/PTSD Remembrance Wall, behind the Bill of Rights,” explains AVM Founder Charlie Uhrmann, and organizer of the annual vigil. “Our event honors all New Jersey Prisoners of War and those still Missing in Action.  We honor the men and women by reciting their names, ranks, serial numbers, and the last date and location they were last seen.”  

She describes this year’s event: “In a word, I would describe this year's vigil as "meaningful," says Uhrmann.  

“This year's Opening Ceremony was dedicated in honor of National Rolling Thunder Co-Founder Joseph Bean's honorable military service and 30 years of civic service,” says Uhrmann. “Mr. Bean passed away last March. This year's Closing Ceremony was in memory of Billylee Appice's selfless honorable civic service to New Jersey Rolling Thunder Chapter 6.  Mr. Appice passed away in August. 

“Reverend Karen Gazzillo, of the Morristown Daughters of the American Revolution included a special blessing for Mr. Bean and Appice during the Invocation and Benediction,” she adds. 

In her opening ceremony, Gazzillo says, “As we gather together for a 24-hour vigil to honor all prisoners of war and those missing in action we lift up special prayers for all of their families and friends who are gathered here today. We honor all of our veterans…worthy men and women who have given their best when they were called upon to serve and protect our country…for their unselfish service. Bless them abundantly despite of the hardships they face and sacrifices they are making for our country. May their families be comforted and find peace that their loved one is honored for their service to our country and we will never forget.” 

Numerous groups volunteered to participate and read names of POW’s and MIAs.  

“Our volunteers read over 2,500 names and rang the Ascension Bell 525 times,” says Uhrmann. “There were two individual 21 gun salutes.  The first salute was conducted by the Second New Jersey Brigade in memory of the two Rolling Thunder member's Bean and Appice's lives, service and passing; and the other 21 gun salute was conducted by American Legion Post 450 Honor Guard and Seton Hall ROTC in honor of the life and service of all New Jersey's POW/MIA.”   

Ret. USAF CMSgt Robert Bedell also gave opening remarks. He says on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, “we seek out answers” to those missing in action, sons and daughters, and pay tribute to prisoners of war. 

“On this day of heartache, let us offer strength,” says Bedell. “Let us remember freedom is never free and we offer a debt to those who fight for freedom.”

Volunteers and Preparation 

Different groups that volunteered included: Mt. Olive High School JROTC Booster Club; National Rolling Thunder; N.J. Rolling Thunder Chapter 6; Staten Island Rolling Thunder Chapter 2; Centenary University President Bruce Murphy; U.S. Army SSGT Luis Matta; N.J. American Legion State Commander Steve Fisher; N.J. American Legion Department Vice Commander Wil Kramer; Morris County American Legion; American Legion Post 91; American Legion Post 450 (Honor Guard); American Legion Post 423; The Second New Jersey Brigade;
The Legion Riders; Morristown Daughters of the American Revolution; N.J. Sons of the American Revolution President Roger Loomis; N.J. Veterans Services; The Free Masons Musconetcong Lodge #42; FR. Joseph A. Cassidy Council 6100 Knights of Columbus; Seton Hall University ROTC. 

As part of the event, “The MOHS JROTC Air Force had 65 cadets participate in the Bataan Death March,” says Uhrmann. 

The purpose of the death march is to remember the April 9, 1942, U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine Island of Luzon to Japan, during WWII when close to 75K Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to march 65 miles to prison camps. Thousands perished due to intense heat and harsh treatment and this became known as the Bataan Death March.      

It was a little bit of country music, and a little bit of reciting thousands of names of soldiers missing in action or prisoners of war.  

Most would say “huh?” that does not mix! While a variety of events are typically held at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake at a given time, many would agree that a country music concert should not have been held at the same time, adjacent to the POW/MIA 24-hour Vigil. 

Country in the Par, a free music concert with vendors, food and beer was held Friday, Sept. 16, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Activity Field, while the 8th annual 2022 POW/MIA 24-hour Vigil was going on at the All-Veterans Memorial, starting at 4:30 p.m. Both venues sit at the entrance of Turkey Brook Park on opposite sides of the loop. 

All Veterans Memorial Founder Charlie Uhrmann, who organizes the National POW/MIA Recognition Day with the 24-hour vigil at the AVM the same September weekend every year, was extremely disappointed by the conflicted events at the park. She raises her concerns at the last Mt. Olive Twp. Council meeting as well as with “Mt. Olive Online” during an interview about the 24-hour vigil.  

“We learned a week before our event that the Mt. Olive Recreation planned a "Country Concert" at the same time as our event,” says Uhrmann. “A similar conflict transpired last year - whereby we had to cancel the "30 Year Anniversary" celebration for Rolling Thunder Founder Artie Mueller.  Last year's conflict not only affected our celebration, but also affected several of our local organization's ability to fundraise; the conflict, we believed it was simply a breakdown in communication.” 

Last year, Uhrmann says “I spoke to MO Recreation Director Jill Daggon and explained that the AVM has only two annual, federally recognized events that we would respectfully ask them to work around; Memorial Day and the National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  In sum, we are simply requesting 20 out of 8,766 hours to honor our dead. 

“Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘A nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure’… I believe this is exactly what President Lincoln was referring to and exactly what we are seeing in our country today,” says Uhrmann. “To me, there was no reason to schedule the event on Friday evening, when they had Saturday evening available to them.  Now, in all fairness, we could barely hear the music behind the wall and the calming sounds from the fountain drowned out any remaining sounds...  However, the idea of hosting a music concert during a POW/MIA vigil did not sit well with our participants.  As soon as they arrived into the parking lot, they could hear the music and voiced displeasure.  When they complained, I felt caught in the middle.  To me personally, I believe it was done in very poor taste. I also believe it to be intentional because we discussed the optics last year. 
“While I do not expect everyone to feel the way I do as it relates to the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms, it would be nice to respect each other's beliefs and passions,” says Uhrmann. “This is not the first time the township has prioritized entertainment over honoring our fallen warriors.  President Lincoln possessed great foresight.”   

Uhrmann then raises these concerns to the Mt. Olive Twp. Council and mayor during the public portion of the Sept. 20 Mt. Olive Twp. Council meeting. She states, there is an “ongoing conflict between our POW/MIA Vigil and Mt. Olive Recreation Concert schedule.” 

She says she thought she cleared up any miscommunication last year with recreation to avoid scheduling other events on Memorial Day and the 24-hour POW/MIA Vigil, as she explained that “the nature of those events are pretty solemn.” 

Urhmann says, “we don’t expect everything to come to a halt,” but she expects “respect for our solemn event.”  She says “participants expressed a lot of concern. We are reciting names and ranks of people who didn’t come while we have fireworks and jubilee in the background. It just sits poorly” in the face of the township itself, with 21 state and local organizations “that walked away a little disappointed.” 

Council Vice President Alex Roman, who ran the meeting that evening, defends Uhrmann’s concerns and asks the township administration to “make sure that does not happen again. I tend to agree with you,” says Roman. “I can understand your point completely.”   

Roman says “I did not attend the vigil. I was not available. There should be better communication going forward so that this does not happen again in the future.” 

Mt. Olive Twp. Mayor Rob Greenbaum also did not attend the vigil but he did attend the Country concert. 

“I did not attend the vigil and was not generally aware of it other than Charlie may have mentioned it previously,” says Greenbaum. “I was at the park that evening briefly to attend the rec event. The park was extremely in use, from soccer to baseball to Mount Playmore, football, the vigil, the Rec event, etc. I recall thinking at the time how great it was to see so many people doing different things and the park so alive. Even if the rec event had not been that evening, the park still would have been very active. There just needs to be better communication between Rec and the AVM Group so that everyone can work together better.” 

Council President Joe Nicastro “was out of town so did not attend.  

I do not think other events should be scheduled at the time. With that said, the planning for our town events are planned out well in advance. At that time the paperwork for the dates of the vigil were not scheduled on the calendar. The recreation department does a great job with so many events and would never purposely schedule an event that would conflict with the vigil.” 

Nicastro does agree this should be corrected moving forward. 

“It is already been addressed and there will be no events scheduled to conflict with the vigil,” says Nicastro. 

Councilman Greg Stewart who was also out of town and did not attend says, “I think most of us were surprised by Charlie’s update, especially since she stated that she had discussed the special Veterans Event with our Recreation Department. This conflict is abnormal. There had to be a miscommunication along the way, as we have one of the best recreation departments in the state, and Jill and Liz always do a great job for our community and township, with the variety of events they manage.” 

Council Member Colleen Labow says she is sure the Business Administrator  Andrew Tatarenko will bring it up to recreation “so it doesn’t happen again.” She says she did not see the 24 hour vigil on the calendar and that the council will “usually get a notification of an event,” but did not. 

“There’s a lot of people to have events,” says Labow, but it is important to make sure “there are no conflicts. We’re only on the council, we don’t do the day to day to organize things.” 

Labow says “it’s good that people raise up these issues; it’s good Charlie brought it to our attention. I had no idea there was even anything amiss.” At the same time, she recognizes that Turkey Brook Park “it’s so incredibly awesome; it comes alive every single day. It’s just a wonderful place to be at any given time. It is a public place.” If someone is walking past there with two dogs that start barking, that can be an issue but “you try to be respectful as possible.”  

While she did not attend the event either, Labow says “we are very conscientious of our veterans. When it comes to the military, I am 100% supportive of any of that stuff.” Her late nephew was a sniper in the army who was honorably discharged.  “You do have to spend some time, need to sit back, reflect and honor our veterans. If it weren’t for our military and our police officers, where would we be? 

Concludes Labow, “We will work really hard to make sure it is not going to happen again. We have a wonderful community. I love my town.”             

The only council member to attend the 24 hour POW/MIA Vigil was John Mania. 

“I was part of the ceremony,” says Mania, who is a veteran. “I read names. To me it’s disrespectful,” to have a concert the same night. He says, “I was aware of the event but I didn’t know it was that night.” 

Administration’s Response 

In response to the conflict raised by Uhrmann, Mt. Olive Recreation Supervisor Jill Daggon says she was unaware of the upcoming vigil. 

“We were not made aware of a POW/MIA 24-hour vigil planned for 9/16/22,” says Daggon. “We set our dates for the upcoming year in September. Information about our events is posted on our website usually in December, prior to the new year. 

“We did hear unofficially that there was a request for a fountain to be put in the pond, about two weeks before our event, but nothing as to there being a service,” adds Daggon. “Had we been informed that there was a service that day, even two months before hand, we would have rescheduled for another day.” 

Even so, she does not think the events conflicted.  

“On event day, we were told that the service would run from 4-5 p.m.,” says Daggon. “Our music started at 5 p.m. and we asked the band to play at half volume, until a larger crowd arrived, out of respect for the service. We were surprised that there was a group marching through our event. 

“Keep in mind that the park was still being fully used by sports groups and the public on 9/16,” Daggon further notes. 

She plans to correct this from happening in the future. 

“While we were at the event, we started a list of notes for things to consider for next year,” she says. At the top of the list was to check to see if there was nationally recognized day for POW/MIA events. In preparation for planning for 2023, I found that the 3rd Friday of September is a national POW/MIA Remembrance Day. We also check the calendar to avoid Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Looking at the calendar for the next several years, the 4th Friday of September does not fall on any of these special days.” 

Daggon says recreation has been accommodating in the past. 

“As to 2021 – the 150th Anniversary of Mt. Olive Township was planned in 2020 and announced/promoted starting in Nov. 2020,” explains Daggon. “It was held on Saturday 9/18/21. On 9/2 we were contacted about there being an event at the AVM. We were able quickly and suitably able to adjust our plans to coordinate our plans with the AVM. 

Holding services inside a school building may not be the most common place for a church. 

But for Commonplace Church in Flanders, the Mt. Olive Middle School in Budd Lake is the place to be on Sunday mornings. The congregation has been meeting at the middle school since July for prayer services, educational programs, music and support. 

As a pastor’s son born and raised in Mt. Olive, the Commonplace Church founding pastor is delighted to return to his homestead while looking for a more permanent space.  

“We’re really grateful for the space at Mt. Olive Middle School,” says Kirk Rupprecht, founding pastor of Commonplace Church.  “There’s a camaraderie; it feels warm and welcoming.”   

Rupprecht, 43, of Budd Lake has been renting space at MOMS since July 17. Prior to relocating to Mt. Olive, Commonplace Church had services in Randolph with deeper roots in Roxbury and Totowa. 

History 

Commonplace Church emerged out of Emergence Church in Totowa. Rupprecht got involved with that church in 2013 and served as the Campus pastor. 

With a membership of 2,500 members, the church offered multi-sites, with one being in Roxbury. In 2015, Rupprecht worked as a pastor at the Emergence Church in Roxbury.  

“Then COVID hit, and we shut down,” says Rupprecht. But not for long. 

In 2021, Rupprecht started his own church and rented space at Grace Bethlehem Church in Randolph. 

“We used their facility, their space as a transition,” says Rupprecht. It was a “tough time to grow a church.”  

About 100 congregants would meet on Sunday afternoons, which was not the most ideal time.  

“I’m a football fan so that’s a tough one,” he says. So, they “were looking for space.” 

The life-long Mt. Olive resident who graduated from MOMS and Mt. Olive High School in 1997 decided to check with the Mt. Olive School District to see if it had space at any of its schools for church services.  

Rupprecht says he reached out the MOSD Buildings and Grounds department and found space available at MOMS. 

“We have a lot of groups who rent space in the district,” says Mt. Olive Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Zywicki. Religious groups, dance groups, music ensembles, any group, he says. “They have to have a certificate of insurance.” 

Proceeds from any group rentals go into the general fund for the school district’s budget, he says. 

Rupprecht says he has a contract and pays a monthly rent to the MOSD to use space at the MOMS. Monies include custodial fees and security. He utilizes the auditorium and some separate classrooms.   

He says the church originally rented space in Roxbury as it “was more affordable” at the time. Rupprecht, bringing his church involvement to his hometown of Mt. Olive, makes sense, and for him is full circle. 

Upbringing & Returning Home 

Rupprecht grew up as a pastor’s son in a nondenominational church. His dad, Dave Rupprecht of Budd Lake was the pastor of Budd Lake Chapel for 30 years, between 1973 and 2000. 

He admits, “as a pastor’s kid, I don’t want to be like my dad.” 

Rupprecht had other interests. He attended Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa.,  where he received his bachelor’s in history. He also loved music. 

“I was a musician,” he says. “I wanted to be a rockstar.” He played in bands. 

As a pastor’s kid, Rupprecht frowns at his upbringing and the pressure he says he felt for not being able to act like himself. To him, that was the greatest turnoff. 

“As a pastor’s kid, there are expectations,” says Rupprecht. “There are some moments that you’ll be the perfect kid. I felt like I couldn’t be myself.” 

He was drawn to music. “I had a group of people who loved me for who I was,” says Rupprecht. 

His living arrangements were also out of the norm.  

He and his older sister did not live a typical childhood like their peers. He recounts sharing the home he was raised in with many other people who needed help.  

“I had a unique childhood,” says Rupprecht. The “ministry was out of our house which was a converted barn.” His father bought the property in 1971. “My parents used that as a resource.”  

During the 1980’s and 1990’s, “many people lived there,” says Rupprecht. His parents actually wrote a book about that time called “Radical Hospitality.”  

“My dad made different living spaces throughout the barn; it felt like communal living space,” describes Rupprecht.  

He says his parents housed about 50 to 70 people throughout 20 years, with about 15 housed at one given time. Their needs varied: Some were single moms, others with no place to live, those with addiction, and even those who were sick, he describes. 

“It was tough at times, at first,” says Rupprecht. But looking back, he realizes this living style gave him an “understanding on how to care for people in need; gave me the desire to help people in situations.” 

But as much as he did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps, Rupprecht was guided back into the life of ministry after one eventful weekend. He describes it as “eye opening in my life” and led him back to “what do I believe?”   

It was March 2, 2007, he and his wife were married for one year when they “found out we were going to have a child,” explains Rupprecht. The next day, they learned that his wife’s cousin had a serious health issue so “we went to pray” for that person. 

That same night, Saturday, March 3, Rupprecht performed in a music gig at the Mt. Olive Bar and Grill in Flanders. He was the guitarist in his band. The next morning, he received tragic news that one of his best friends who was the lead singer in his band- Jason ‘Jay’ Byrnes, 28, of Budd Lake - died from a drug overdose.  

“We played in that show, and it was magical,” says Rupprecht. But on March 4, 2007, he was “met with tragedy” after the “loss of his best friend and music.” That weekend was so “impactful,” it “left me with purpose; put me on a journey of faith.”  

From that weekend, filled with emotion from both sides of the spectrum, Rupprecht realizes “there was power in prayer.”    

As horrible as it was, Rupprecht says it was “the most monumental weekend of my life. It is “what led him” to this place as pastor. “I don’t know what else I’d be doing.”     

Pastor and Family Man 

Rupprecht and his wife Alicia settled in Budd Lake and are raising three children. Their eldest son Caden, 15, is a freshman at MOHS; 12-year old daughter Cassidy attends the MOMS; and Ellie, 8, attends Chester M. Stephens Elementary School. 

Alicia Rupprecht owns her own photography studio, Rupprecht Photography in Budd Lake, and leads the Youth Ministry at Commonplace Church. 

In addition to his involvement with the church, Rupprecht has been quite involved in town as a soccer and basketball coach for his children’s youth teams. He coached recreation soccer for his daughter, up until last spring, when she switched to cheerleading. He also coached his son in basketball, but he now plays football. 

To Rupprecht, there is no place like home. 

“There’s really a powerful evolution of what it has become,” says Rupprecht. “To watch something grow. There’s good connectivity in this town. There’s a community that unites and comes together. Good unity….it’s not perfect but there’s a theme that carries over.” 

He hopes “we can bring some hope on where it might be needed,” he says.      

One of Rupprecht’s challenges that he tries to reinforce within his congregation and his family, is to be oneself. 

To his family, as a father, he can share his childhood experiences with them and understand the challenges of being a pastor’s kid. He can give them the opportunity and freedom to speak and share their feelings and vulnerabilities, he explains.  

“There is a foundation there,” says Rupprecht. Unlike his upbringing, “Our family is separate from our ministry.” 

He says, “our first ministry is to our kids and family.”  

For the church, Rupprecht inserts the same values.    

“One of our values is authenticity,” says Rupprecht, “To be honest with things. We struggle with what’s hard; don’t have to put on a fake smile. Just show up and be cared for and loved. Jesus says, ‘come as you are.’ 

“People are just honest and real and that’s what brings us together in a real unique way,” says Rupprecht.  

On the church website page, it states “This is a common place:
For common and everyday people. For tired and confused people.
For broken and messy people. For ALL people.” 

By Cheryl Conway

Anyone who has attended the last few Mt. Olive Board of Education meetings will most likely agree that there has been an overload of dissent, conflicts, investigations and a sense of disrespect to district leaders, board members and administrators. 

But today’s summary of what is happening within Mt. Olive School District will, for now, look past the discontent, and rather focus on the progress from the past school year and what lies ahead. 

Mt. Olive Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Zywicki recently engages board members and the community to Mt. Olive Tiers of Success as part of his BOE report and to parents who tuned in to the last Parent’s University. 

In a telephone interview with Mt. Olive Online, he summarizes last year’s progress and touches on what lies ahead for this current school year.  

Pandemic Challenges 

For the 2021-2022 school year- Zywicki commends the district for getting through the third year of the pandemic. 

“It seems like a blur,” he says. Last January, the district was at an “ultimate low point” of the pandemic in which 1,000 kids and staff members were exposed and waiting results. 

It was “absolutely exhausting,” he says. But the district still continued to attend classes in person; virtual option was still provided to those who were either sick or needed to quarantine.  

“We did it and got through it,” says Zywicki. Then in March 7, the school district dropped its mask requirement when the New Jersey governor dropped the state mandate. 

“We didn’t shut down for weeks,: he says. “We kept going; it was very tough but we did it for the kids.”   

Sustainable & Digital Recognition   

Another success from the last school year was having all six of its schools being recognized as a Jersey Sustainable and Digital Star School by the N.J. School Board Association.  

The Mt. Olive schools were recognized as leaders in the state when it comes to digital learning practices and commitment to sustainability. 

Two sets of awards were received for each school, explains Zywicki.  

To earn the sustainability certification, schools are considered in various areas such as energy efficiency for school facilities; healthy food choices; promotion of locally grown foods; green cleaning policy & plan; classroom cleanup practices; school culture and climate needs assessment; social emotional learning; education for sustainability; programs to promote physical activity; indoor air quality review. 

 As far as its Digital Star School recognition, MOSD is one of just a handful of districts in the state to have all of its schools earn a Digital School Star. The program is offered in partnership with the N.J. Department of Education and the N.J. School Boards Association. 

To earn a Digital School Star, each school submitted a comprehensive application detailing its efforts in many action areas: Application of digital learning tools and content; teaching of digital citizenship; data safety and security; infrastructure; equitable access to digital learning. 

Some highlights cited were the district’s advanced wireless network; 1:1 Chromebook deployment to students; extensive use of the Google educational suite of applications and resources; development of a personalized success plan for each student; hybrid learning practices; and various digital communication methods such as school newsletters, social media, superintendent’s weekly blog and video messaging. 

Model School 

Another success last year was the MOHS being named a model school. 

In June, MOHS was one of just 16 schools in the country to be selected as a 2022 Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education, an organization that supports effective instructional practices that lead to accelerated learning for all students.  

Some successful initiatives implemented over the past several years to help earn this recognition were a result of the district’s long-term plan. These included a data-driven remediation system to tailor instruction for each student’s needs, blended learning programs, and unique new courses in computer science, robotics, business, anatomy, social studies and special education. 

Also put into place were new initiatives to address social and emotional learning, school climate and student conduct and instructional equity.  

Graduation rates, access to AP courses and the RTI (Response To Intervention) program for reading instruction were also considered in this recognition, says Zywicki.  

Equity Task Force 

Last school year, MOSD made some great strides though its Equity Task Force.  

“Belonging was our first mission,” says Zywicki. Next was to dig deeper into policies and procedures.  

“Some people are very upset about looking at data,” says Zywicki. “We had numbers we had to mitigate. We made progress,” he says, and “gave a common language” so all can have a sense of belonging. 

Capital Projects 

Even with the pandemic and restrictions, the MOSD was able to pull off some sizeable capital projects to improve district facilities.  

The second phase of Chester M. Stephens Elementary School was completed with $1.5 million in improvements that include a renovated gymnasium, classrooms, hallways and lockers. 

The baseball field at the high school was revitalized and transformed into a new multi-purpose sports field to be used for a variety of sports. 

The district is currently in the process of updating its track facilities at the high school.  

Looking Forward To Normal 

As the current school year is a month underway, Zywicki shares what he anticipates for this school year.  

“Our aspiration is normal,” says Zywicki. “We want things to be as normal as possible.” 

With all of its plans, policies and programs in place, Zywicki says the time is now for “getting better and developing our people.”  

Instead of always looking to bring outside experts to engage with district educators, this year’s focus is “trying to harness the expertise of our faculty; our teachers training teachers; using experts and resources we have in the district.” 

Parent Universities grew out of the pandemic, but will not be an endemic. Zywicki plans to continue communicating with parents through Parent Universities to keep all abreast of what is happening in MOSD, he says.    

“More communication is needed” with him and the parents, he says.  

As the masks are off and the district returns to normal, it is time to catch for the district to catch its breath. 

MOSD is “not rolling out any major initiatives,” this year, says Zywicki. 

Health and Fitness Education is one new initiative but even that is being “paused” in being rolled out to allow time for meetings and proper presentation to parents, he says. Teachers are still working in professional learning communities “to digest state standards.”     

The district is getting back to offering day trips.

“Hopefully it is that true return to normal,” says Zywicki.  

The greatest challenge, he says, is the increase in enrollment this year. MOSD is up 150 kids “today than last year,” and to that “space is getting tight.” MOSD is considering a referendum to expand. 

“We’re getting tight for space,” says Zywicki. “We need to focus on our facilities. The district is growing. Our classroom sizes are up. We’re tight for space because people want to be here.”  

Zywicki would not specify if that expansion means larger facilities or more buildings. Those answers will come after an updated demographic study and direction from the BOE. 

MO Tiers of Success 

At the August 22 BOE meeting, Zywicki presents the 2022-2023 Mt. Olive Tiers of Success. 

“All means all,” as he stresses in the first slide, referring to all students matter whether in terms of SWOT- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. 

He goes over the district’s goals set from 2019-2023 and reviewed the action steps for 2022-2023. 

He discusses the three tiers of support for RTI (Response to Intervention): Core Classroom Instruction; Targeted Small Group Instruction; Intensive Individual Intervention.   

The main part of his presentation focuses on the new three tiers of Success: Belong; Believe; and Succeed. 

“First and foremost, we need to make kids feel like they belong,” says Zywicki. “Coming out of the pandemic, there’s lots of kids that feel like they don’t belong. They are not alright. They feel like things have been done to them. They are on their devices nonstop. Everything’s on Tic Toc and Snapchat…and they’ve had to deal with economic stability and inflation. Our kids need to feel like they belong.”  

To do this, Zywicki says students need physical and emotional safety; as well as inclusion, access and equity. They need to understand that from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, “you are a Marauder for life.” With that mentality, students will be engaged and see themselves as a reflection in highly trained, diversified faculty and staff.   

Second tier: “Our kids need to feel like they believe,” he says. “Who is the most successful?” He says the ones who go out for Navy SEALs, “They believe they are going to complete the mission. They know they are going to get it done. Kids are setting goals for themselves and they believe they can make progress…..even though it’s not going to be plan A,” it’s probably going to be plan C or D. 

To believe, students set goals and adhere to their personalized success plans with enrichments and intervention whether that means gifted and talented or special education.   

The last tier is to succeed. “Highest thing is success,” says Zywicki. “Kids can achieve those goals.” Through this tier, students will achieve their personalized success plan goals.  

“We are an exceptional place,” says Zywicki. Students will list their four personalized learning goals every year: Academic, wellness, love or learning, and social and emotional learning goals.   

Six Goals 

As part of his presentation, Zywicki discusses the district’s top six goals for this school year.  

First goal is to provide the most innovative and safe learning environment possible for the MOSD community. 

This will be done by completing all BOE summer 2022 capital projects; continue to design physical and virtual learning spaces; update the unified district security manual; conduct an inter-district unification drill and security audit with a district-wide threat assessment. 

Goal two is institutionalize personalized learning so all students get rigorous and relevant academic experiences that produce future ready graduates.  

According to a 2017-2018 ESSA School Accountability Profile by the N.J. Department of Education, white students and the schoolwide ratio did not meet the target in its PARCC scores in mathematics. Black or African American students did not meet the target for its graduation rate; and economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities, did not meet the state average by being listed with chronic absenteeism. 

Goal three is the establish and enhance social-emotional learning programs to develop the EQ of all learners. This will be done by implementing social and emotional learning programs through the Mt. Olive Tiers of Success; screen students for at risk behaviors; expand SEL programs to include development and wellness of faculty and staff; and conduct a seven-year analysis of suspensions, violence, vandalism, discipline and HIB’s. 

“Our staff have been traumatized,” says Zywicki. “Past three years have been terrible. Pandemic happened. In March 2020 everyone was heroes and by October 2022 teachers are evil; people are wearing masks. They’ve been through the ringer. 

“We need to make sure we support them as well,” says Zywicki, about teachers, faculty and staff.  

Goal four is to recruit, develop, and retain the most highly skilled workforce to serve MOSD. One idea is to get as many student teachers as possible; and also go beyond a 20 miles radius in N.J. seeking applicants from New York or other areas. Also to create university partnerships for recruiting and professional development.   

Goal five is to embrace multimedia communication strategies to engage the entire community. Some action steps include launching an updated district website by February 2023; conduct at least six Parent University sessions this school year; and ensure that all district web sources are ADA-compliant. 

Goal six is to ensure compliance, transparency and fiscal responsibility of MOSD programs and operations. Some of these action steps include maintaining an operating budget with its 2% revenue cap and zero base budgeting: report progress to the Equity Task Force; ensure compliance with policy-driven handbooks for students and staff; and by June 2023, launch the 2023-2027 strategic planning process. 

There will be 40 to 60 community members active in the district’s next four-year strategic plan.  

Pickles n olives: This is much greater than a pregnancy craving. 

The two elderly seniors were gossiping about the pickles n olives down the grocery isle, but after some careful digging, and a hint from a local Board of Education member, Mt. Olive Online solved the latest mystery.  

Pickleball has landed in Mt. Olive!  

Why not use the existing tennis courts sprinkled throughout town and on school district property?   

“This fall, we are using the Powerline Courts (that were refinished this summer with pickleball lines added) for Pickleball lessons on Thursdays,” says Jill Daggon, Mt. Olive Recreation supervisor. “We will be adding more lessons/clinics as interest develops.” 

Daggon says the “Powerline courts are off Glendale Rd, by the Dan Jordan softball fields. You can see the courts from Rt 206.” 

Recreation will eventually be teaming up with the MOTSD to use its tennis courts at the Mt. Olive Middle School. 

“Pickleball at MOMS tennis courts – There isn’t much of a story yet,” says Daggon. “One of the MOTSD tennis coaches approached me about offering pickleball lessons. I reached out to BOE members, the AD and the superintendent to ask about using the courts for pickleball programs. They were in favor of it. In my conversation with the AD, we discussed using temporary markers to define courts. My understanding is that the tennis courts are due to be refinished next spring, so they can add pickleball lines to the courts.” 

MOTSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Zywicki says recreation wanted to offer pickleball so Daggon talked to the “facility folks and they’re doing it. 

“It’s super cool,” says Zywicki. “We have a great relationship with recreation” and the town.    

Mt. Olive Board of Education Member Liz Ouimet applauds the “cooperative effort with recreation. It’s nice we are moving forward with it and how we work together,” she says at the last BOE meeting. 

According to Daggon, pickleball can be played by anyone. 

Offered through the US Sports Institute, “pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis,” as described on the US Sports Institute website. “It is played on a badminton-sized court with a perforated plastic ball, similar to a whiffle ball, and wood or composite paddles. It is easy for beginners to learn and can develop into a quick, fast-paced competitive game for experienced players.”    

Two tiers of ability is being offered so participants can learn and play at their level. Expect to learn basic techniques such as groundstrokes, how to serve and volley; as well as scoring, rules and match play tactics. 

Foundation Pickleball focuses on the fundamentals “in an energetic, low-pressure environment.” Expect instruction and play in each session. Held Thursdays 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m., Sept. 15- Nov. 3. 

Development Pickleball is ideal for intermediate players looking to enhance their knowledge and skills with this sport. Expect a 15-minute warm-up followed by play time. Held Thursdays 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Sept. 15-Nov. 3.  Both are for any age, 18 to 80. Cost is $195.   

For more information, go to www.mountolivetwpnj.org/recreation-department/pages/us-sports-institute.