Editor’s note: In light of recent events related to coronavirus, some organizations have decided to cancel their upcoming programs. Please check the status of any event before attending.
The five campuses of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools will hold outdoor graduations for the 474 members of the Class of 2020 at three locations on July 8 and 9.
The ceremonies for the Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge and the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies in Edison will be held July 8 in William Warren Park on Florida Grove Road in Woodbridge.
The Woodbridge Academy ceremony will be at 9 a.m., and the Edison Academy graduation will be at 11:30.
The ceremonies for the MCVTS East Brunswick Campus and the Piscataway Campus will be held July 9 on the soccer field on the East Brunswick Campus. The East Brunswick graduation will be at 9 a.m., and the Piscataway graduation at 11:30 a.m.
The graduation for the Perth Amboy Campus will be held July 9 at 9 a.m. on the softball field on the campus.
The rain date for all of the ceremonies will be July 10.
Each graduate will be allowed two guests. Family groups will be allowed to sit together, with proper spacing in between. There will be speeches by the valedictorian and salutatorian of each campus.
Custodians will sanitize the chairs in between the two ceremonies in Woodbridge and East Brunswick.
More information is available at www.mcvts.net.
The East Brunswick Public School District Community Programs Department is offering virtual summer Kindergarten Readiness, Summer Early Learning and Kindergarten Refresh Academy programs to all East Brunswick residents, as well as surrounding communities.
The Virtual Summer Early Learning Academy will offer a fun-filled program for 3- and 4-year-olds who will not be entering Kindergarten in September. Activities and themes are designed to promote children’s social and cognitive development, while providing structure and curricular activities.
The Virtual Kindergarten Readiness Academy is designed to provide students entering kindergarten with continued quality programming prior to kindergarten. Participation in this program will focus on essential kindergarten readiness skills, therefore providing a headstart for all participants. These essential kindergarten skills are aligned with the East Brunswick Kindergarten curriculum. Additionally, the program enables comprehensive transition information for children to their kindergarten teacher.
The Virtual Kindergarten Refresh Academy is for students entering first grade and will focus on a review of basic kindergarten skills. Activities and weekly themes are designed to promote children’s social-emotional and cognitive development. Students will engage in daily activities related to curriculum, reading skills, math concepts, science, physical activity, and social-emotional development.
All three programs will help to maintain a daily structured routine, continued educational programming and quality interactions to support learning at home. Included in tuition will be weekly vendor online interactive programs including Science, music, sports and other fun learning activities. The program will also concentrate on closing the learning gap that research shows traditionally occurs over summer months.
Students in all three programs will have the opportunity to participate in daily online interactions for up to 90 minutes per day from 9:30-11 a.m. A sample schedule includes a Welcome Meeting – Calendar, Weather, Story Time, Fundations (reading/spelling) and Theme-Focused Discussion (approximately 20-30 minutes), Special Enrichment – Vendor Program or Theme-Focused Activity (approximately 20-30 minutes), and Social Development & Peer Groups – Small group interactions where children have the opportunity to engage in fun activities such as games and dance parties (approximately 20-30 minutes).
The program will include science, carnival, Olympic and ocean-themed weeks, plus more.
The Summer Early Learning, Kindergarten Readiness, and Kindergarten Refresh Virtual Academies will run from July 13-Aug. 21, with the option to enroll for three weeks, or all six weeks.
Visit www.ebnet.org/virtualsummer for registration instructions and program details.
The East Brunswick Public Library’s annual summer reading activities will take place online.
This year’s theme is “Imagine Your Story,” and the library has special challenges for readers of all ages.
By completing reading and learning challenges, readers can win prizes. The program has three challenge levels: kid, teen and adult. Summer reading runs through Sept. 7.
The children’s program is for ages 5-12. Children can gain points to win free books in various ways, including each day they read, the summer learning bingo board, writing book reviews, and special weekly missions. There is also a similar summer reading program for younger children through the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative.
To make registration easier, families can now register together, and parents can manage summer reading logging. Children can also maintain their summer reading logs independently.
The teen program is for ages 12-18. Library users turning 13 during the summer can choose whether they want to participate in either the kids or teen program. Through the summer, there are several different ways to earn points for prizes by reading books and completing tasks on a bingo board. Points can be redeemed for book prizes.
Adults participating in the summer reading program can earn a chance to win prizes by completing a mix of reading goals, as well as service and community-oriented objectives. There are also several special online programs planned for adults over the summer, including a Fantasy Trivia night, Virtual Open Mic Night, TED Talks Viewing and Discussion.
To register for the library’s summer reading activities visit, www.ebpl.org/summerreading.
For information about upcoming library programs and services, visit www.ebpl.org.
The East Brunswick Jewish Center is providing minyanim twice every day, services on Shabbat and holidays, adult education classes and Lunch and Learn with the Rabbi.
Membership welcome but not necessary.
Visit www.ebjc.org/online-events for more information.
Raritan Valley YMCA is encouraging residents to #StayWithUs during this time, in particular by visiting the Y’s Facebook page for virtual events, programs and classes.
Adult programs include group fitness classes provided by Y360, Les Mills and from Y instructors. Programs and classes will be updated on a week-to-week basis. The ZOOM app is required; email [email protected] for log-in details.
The Facebook page also features live story time and creative arts with Ms. Preeti and Ms. Brenda.
Details Camp Yomeca day camp are available on the website. Online registration is open.
For more information, visit raritanvalleyymca.org.
Nominations are being accepted in 10 categories for an annual recognition program to celebrate individuals, businesses and governments for extraordinary commitment to recycling.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in conjunction with the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, annually recognizes excellence in recycling to highlight program successes achieved by individuals, agencies, businesses and others whose efforts help keep New Jersey communities clean and healthy.
Applications may be submitted in these categories: Institution, Business, Retail Merchant, Government, Leadership, Rising Star, Recycling Industry, Outstanding Educator/Educational Program, Volunteer Citizen and Source Reduction/Resource Management/Sustainability.
Nominations are due by July 31 and awardees will be notified in September. Award winners will be honored at the Association of New Jersey Recyclers Symposium and Awards Luncheon scheduled Oct. 14 in Neptune.
To view the application and information packet, visit www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling/awards.htm or www.recycle.nj.gov.
The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is opening the nomination process for its 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project. This multi-day salute to service will bring together Purple Heart heroes representing each state and territory in the nation to pay tribute to their courage and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful nation.
One Purple Heart recipient and an escort of their choosing from each state and territory will again be selected for an all-expenses-paid tribute filled with tours and ceremonies honoring their service and that of all those who have earned the Purple Heart. The four-day Patriot Project Mission will feature visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s headquarters where the Badge of Military Merit originated in 1782, and a private tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor – the museum dedicated to paying tribute to our nation’s combat wounded. Other special tribute events are also being planned.
Anyone can nominate a Purple Heart recipient they know. Nominations must include a short description (up to 250 words) of why their nominee is deserving of this special recognition. Submissions can be sent via email to [email protected] or submitted via www.purpleheartmission.org/patriot-project.
Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 31. The Honor Mission will select three finalists from each state and territory and a national panel of Purple Heart recipients and other distinguished Americans will select the final honorees.
A complete list of honorees will be announced nationally on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Monroe Township Jewish War Veterans Post 609 is collecting United States and foreign stamps, both on and off envelopes.
Stamps are used by veterans as hobbies and as therapy to support medical staff at VA Medical Centers nationwide.
Stamps are not traded or sold; they are forwarded to veteran patients at no charge.
Also requested are DVDs suitable for veterans at those locations.
Send all items to JWV Post 609, c/o Charles Koppelman, 6 Yarmouth Dr., Monroe 08831-4742.
The East Brunswick Domestic Response Team is seeking volunteers.
Citizens are trained to respond to local police departments on an on-call basis to provide support and information to victims of domestic abuse.
For more information, email [email protected].
The Korean War/Defense Veterans Association Central Jersey Chapter No. 148 extends an invitation to any veterans, regardless of branch of service, who served during the war from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, in any location, including Europe, or who have served in Korea from July 27, 1953, through the present.
The group meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month —except January through April — at the Monroe Township Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza.
Membership dues are $25 to the Korean War Veterans Association and $10 chapter fee per year.
The chapter is involved in various functions during the year, including parades, flag raisings, visiting the Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City, etc.
For more information, contact Charles Koppelman at 609-655-3111 or [email protected].
The SAMHAJ (South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey) Multicultural Picnic is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11 at Thompson Park Grove 4AB, Perrineville Road and Schoolhouse Road, Monroe.
The annual NAMIWalks is scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Boardwalk at Seaside Park.
For more information, visit www.naminj.org.
The Community Health Law Project (CHLP) has extended the deadline for nominations of candidates for the Ann Klein Advocate Awards and Mike Lione Accessibility Award to recognize those who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of people living with disabilities through Oct. 17.
The Ann Klein Advocate Award is given to a group of select individuals and organizations, nominated by the public, who have performed exemplary work as advocates for people living with disabilities and/or vulnerable populations.
The award is named in memory of Ann Klein, former commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services, whose career as a public servant, legislator and social worker paved the way for significant advances in the human services systems throughout the State of New Jersey.
The Mike Lione Accessibility Award was established in 2013 in memory of longtime Community Health Law Project Board Member and former Chair Mike Lione. This award is presented to an individual or entity that has performed exemplary work as an advocate for accessibility on behalf of persons living with disabilities.
For more information, visit www.chlp.org or call 973-275-1175.