Second Graders Meet Mendham Township Leaders

Mendham Township, NEW JERSEY (February 20, 2020) – Recently, the students in second grade at Mendham Township Elementary School (MTES) have been studying "local government" as part of their social sciences curriculum. As per state standards, students learn about the roles and responsibilities of people in authority. Children are taught to expand their thinking to consider the broader community and the importance of democratic principles and practices. Particular attention is paid to describing how communities work to accomplish common tasks, establish responsibilities, and fulfill roles of authority.

While the social studies unit on local government is carefully aligned with educational standards, the teachers at MTES are always looking for new ways to make these lessons fun and realistic. One of the second grade teachers at MTES, Mrs. Darlyne Pieper, thought it would be especially insightful for the students to meet some of their local community leaders. Mrs. Sarah Neibart, Mendham Township Mayor, and Mr. Nick Monaghan, Deputy Mayor, graciously accepted the school’s invitation to visit with all the Grade 2 students at the school and discuss local government right here in Mendham Township.

Armed with the knowledge from their social sciences classes, these students asked relevant and focused questions, a key educational objective for their grade. Mayor Neibart and Deputy Mayor Monaghan participated in a lively interactive session that even included a voting exercise, where every student got to submit one vote for their favorite pet, i.e., dog or cat! (Spoiler alert: this group of voters heavily favored the dog option on the voting ballot.)

“I am grateful to Mayor Neibart and Deputy Mayor Monaghan for supporting our social studies unit on local government,” said Mrs. Pieper, “and I am incredibly proud of all of the second grade students for asking such insightful and thoughtful questions. The dialogue really helped the students learn how a local government works to make the community better and a safer place to live.”

“We are so fortunate to have a wonderful relationship with our Township Committee. This level of collaboration on behalf of our students is so beneficial and is indicative of what a wonderful community this is. Amazing work by our teachers, bringing local government into the classroom for the students,” said Dr. Salvatore Constantino, Superintendent of Schools.

(Photo: back row from left to right: Mrs. Darlyne Pieper - Grade 2 Teacher, Mendham Township Mayor Sarah Neibart, Mendham Township Deputy Mayor Nick Monaghan, Mr. Kevin O'Keefe - Grade 2 Teacher; front row from left to right: second graders: Hadley Gondek, Reese Fjelstad , Harper Francks, Declan Charles, J.J. Broady, and Sammie Baldwin)