Montville Public Schools Use Social Media To Update Community

Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, e-mail newsletters and increased website activity are just a few of the communications initiatives implemented by Montville Township Public Schools to keep all members of the community informed. For Montville’s public schools, Social Media is both fun and informative.

Since March 2014, the district has been steadily increasing community outreach through a wide variety of on-line platforms. News items, newsletters, photos, videos and contests tell a broad educational story on a daily basis.

“Montville Township Public Schools are innovative and cutting edge,” said District Communications Officer Susan Marinello. “There is exciting news happening every single day in each of the district’s seven schools. We try to reflect as many accomplishments, initiatives awards and announcements as possible daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and www.montville.net. Superintendent Dr. Rene’ Rovtar also highlights news, accomplishments and initiatives in her monthly newsletter which is e-mailed to the entire district and others who request the news.”

Marinello noted that in addition to news, the sites also hold contests and post videos and photo galleries.

“We had a graduation contest last June, and a summer contest, #‎ReadyforMontville, with up-close photos of everyday objects found at the schools. People had to try to guess where the photo was taken. For the first day of school, parents submitted #‎Back2School pics, and for a homework free night we held a caption contest,” explained Marinello. “The Red Barn Restaurant, and Joe’s Pizza have regularly provided gift certificates for our on-line contests.”

In September, Heidi Calcagno won a Red Barn Restaurant gift certificate for the #‎ReadyforMontville contest on Facebook and Twitter. The long-time Pine Brook resident is an active public school mom. She has three children who attended Woodmont, Lazar and, are now in, or recently graduated from, Montville Township High School.

“I saw the #‎ReadyforMontville Facebook photos and thought they were fun,” Calcagno said. “I watched for the new post and took my best guess. Montville has a high quality education system. I am proud to send my kids there. They are well prepared.”

Calcagno used the gift certificate to take her family to breakfast.

Towaco resident, Alisa Georgas, also won a Red Barn Gift certificate for her winning Homework Free Night photo caption. She wrote: "Who is spending homework free night have Fun!!!!!!!"

All Montville Township Public Schools official Social Media sites and newsletters are available to everyone in the community and beyond.

“All you have to do is ‘FOLLOW’ us,” Marinello said. “Alumni, former township residents, grandparents, and others follow Montville Township Public Schools on Social Media. People from all over the world follow Montville Township Public Schools. The vast majority of those who interact with the district on-line are in the USA, in fact most are in Montville Township, but we do have followers from elsewhere such as, India, Thailand, and Argentina.”

“Recently,” Marinello noted, “One family, from Barcelona, reached out because the father had accepted a job in NJ. Montville had been recommended. They were able to learn about our district through our on-line presence.”

Marinello, a half time employee, who along with a volunteer for the district, Janell Crispyn, manages stories, media items, photos and videos.

“It is a lot of educational information,” Marinello explained.

According to the Communications Officer, the news is plentiful. noting that "just a few educational achievements since September" include: Montville Township Public Schools having been named among the top 250 schools in the nation according to Newsweek, number 60 in New Jersey by Niche.com, and a national District of Distinction by District Administration magazine. Additionally, two of the district’s elementary schools, Woodmont and Cedar Hill, have been named NJ State Schools of Character, students from William Mason Elementary and Robert R. Lazar Middle School competed in the NJ National Geographic Bee -- which sixth grader Veda Bhattaram won, and he will compete in Washington D.C. -- Valley View Elementary School topped $122,000 with the St. Jude’s Hospital Math-A-Thon, Hilldale Elementary hosted a day-long Year of the Monkey fashion show, karate demonstration and multi-cultural celebration, Woodmont launched a hot air balloon, and The district’s Educational Technology Teacher Coach has launched three major technology educational initiatives across the district with Google Expeditions, Hour of Code and a Digital Learning Day, and the Montville Township High School yearbook has launched a Video Yearbook channel on YouTube.

“All of this is just the tip of the educational iceberg,” Marinello explained. “Our expanding Social Media platforms allow us to share news regularly with the Montville Township community.”

In addition, the district has been featured on the Emmy-winning education program. Classroom Close-up, a total of four times in the past 365 days, and covered by News 12, NJ.com, the Daily Record, Neighbor News and other major media outlets.

“We encourage everyone to stay informed,” Superintendent Rovtar said. “Those who wish to receive my monthly newsletter should e-mail me at Rene.Rovtar@Montville.net.”

In addition to the Dr. Rovtar’s monthly newsletters, the Montville Township Community is encouraged to regularly catch up on news and announcements at www.montville.net, LIKE Montville Township Public Schools on FACEBOOK, FOLLOW @MontvilleTwpSch and @MustangsMTHS on TWITTER, SUBSCRIBE to the Video YearBook (MTHS) on YOUTUBE and FOLLOW MontvilleTwpSchools on Instagram.

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2015-09-15 heidi (photo by Janell Crispyn):

Montville Township Public Schools hosts contests and posts important announcements. Red Barn Restaurant and Joe's Pizza often provide prizes. “Montville has a high quality education system. I am proud to send my kids there. They are well prepared,” said a September social media contest winner, Heidi Calcagno.