Press release from Fair Haven School District

The Fair Haven Board of Education honored the achievements of Knollwood School students with a pizza party and ceremony held at the school on the evening of June 9.

There was plenty to celebrate, as Board members, along with Superintendent Nelson Ribon and Principal Kevin Davis, recognized accomplishments that included a championship finish by the Knollwood School Girls Softball Team, as well as outstanding showings by the school’s musical groups and participants in a regional Spring Stock Market Game.

Softball coach and Literacy Teacher Christina Jarosinki noted that her team accomplished the noteworthy feat of clinching both their division and league championship titles, by defeating Tinton Falls to claim the SISBL title.

“It has been an absolute honor to watch the team grow and progress, and it has been beautiful to see the eighth graders embrace the sixth and seventh graders,” said Jarosinski. “This year, we all learned lessons from one another and it truly felt like we were a family.”

Knollwood Softball Team members include eighth graders Alina Arko, Sarah Finley, Jeanne Gagliano, Jackie Hanson, Erin McKay, Amanda Merton, Jamie O’Donnell, Maggie Ryan, and Gillian Thorp; seventh graders Jane Banahan, Kirsten Felsman, Chloe Freglette, Kate Halcrow (Manager), Katherine Harby, and Ceci Newman; and sixth graders Cece Arko and Devon Reid.

Also lauded by the Board of Ed were fifth-graders George Clough, Patrick Malpass, and Charles Newbury — members of the Knollwood School Stock Market Club — who competed against over 100 other teams in the Southern Region of New Jersey Spring Stock Market Game. With a “virtual” $100,000 to invest, they made a profit of $6,977.56.

“I am very impressed with how much these boys learned about investing,” said Stock Market Club Advisor and Knollwood Fifth Grade Teacher Jessica Dougherty, who attended the celebration.

Knollwood Music Teachers Melanie Chayette, Sara Marino, and Vince Mottern were also on hand to commemorate the growth and hard work of students in the Knollwood School Orchestra, Band, and Glee Club.

“I have been lucky enough to attend many of your performances, and I am amazed at the depth of talent of our students as well as what our music teachers have been able to accomplish,” Board of Education President Mark Mancuso told the student-musicians.

Fair Haven Board of Education Members are Michael Bernstein, Claudia Brasch, Bennett Coleman, Jennifer Halcrow, Mark Mancuso, Bruce Padula, Karen Saad, Jeff Spector, and Randi Walker.