May 9, 2025 -- At South Toms River Elementary, there is a focus each year to raise the bar in the areas of culture, climate and academics. The belief is that if the culture and climate of the school is welcoming and one where students feel safe to be themselves, then they will be able to grow academically and flourish in other areas of achievement and growth.

“Our school’s culture and climate initiatives promote kindness as their shining light,” said Supervisor Nikole Mustica. “Each day, we strive to provide a learning environment where staff and students work together as a team and feel safe to learn and express themselves respectfully.”

To help achieve these goals, the school has made a commitment to nurture SEL (social and emotional learning) through the framework of CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) competencies. The framework helps develop skills such as social awareness, self-management, self-awareness, and relationship skills.

Additionally, there is a focus on core values, provided through the Core Essentials curriculum, to help strengthen students’ understanding of how they feel about themselves affects their outward interactions with others.

Each month, there is a focus on one core value where there are multiple opportunities for students to model and exhibit these behaviors through daily interactions with each other. Dr. Megan Okuniewicz, physical education teacher, has the led the SEL charge in creating Morning Meeting slides that focus on the core values and how to model the behavior. The slides intertwine a specific core value, the Kindness Campaign character trait of the month, and Kindness Mondays activities.

In the area of academics, Supervisor Mustica said, "Our academic goal is to promote the achievement and growth of all students through engaging, relevant, and rigorous instruction and authentic assessments designed to challenge each student to perform to his or her maximum potential." 

There is a strong focus on MTSS and providing pathways for success to the school's most at-risk population. By using data and collaborating with various stakeholders, students are identified who need additional support and receive interventions designed to address their specific and unique needs. "We meet children where they are in their individual learning journey to accelerate learning and close achievement gaps for every student," said Mustica.  

To do this in the academic area of math, the school has incorporated a daily WINN period that focuses specifically on building foundational math skills in number sense. In language arts and reading, the school's interventionists have provided professional development to staff on the Science of Reading and provided parents with the opportunity to observe their child during a 95 Percent lesson.  This collaboration with parents presented them with the tools to help troubleshoot with their children at home if they are struggling.

Like many other schools across the district, South Toms River also participates in the High Impact Tutoring program for qualifying students in grades 3 and 4.  Students meet before school three days a week where they practice their skills to help accelerate learning in small groups with dedicated teaching staff.

A focus on community and providing opportunities for families to participate in activities with their students also creates a more inviting and family-focused feeling at the school. It also helps to foster an environment where students want to attend school and combat chronic absenteeism, which has been a district goal for a few years.  The family-centered activities often have an academic theme but are designed to be engaging and fun.  

Students are rewarded and recognized throughout the year for acts of kindness and good character traits such as integrity, responsibility, and respect.  They can also be nominated by their teachers for demonstrating the character trait of the month.  Monthly attendance incentives are also awarded to students. PBSIS (Positive Behavior Support in Schools) is ongoing at South Toms River and through the PBSIS team, there are monthly school wide events planned such as the Turkey Trot race and glow party. The students are excited to participate in the events and are a direct result of all their hard work. 

It's easy to tell that there's a lot going on at South Toms River Elementary every day. The dedicated staff and teachers at the school work tirelessly to provide opportunities and an environment for students to succeed and thrive. 

"At STRE, our teamwork is our strength," said Mustica.  "We are a family and we always have our students' best interests in mind."