Wilderness Survival Class Than Bushcraft
Junior Anna Pitts, one of the few girls in the class, said she took the course because her friend took it and she thought it would be an easy class.
“I would say that the class was definitely challenging at some points,” Pitts said. “Because of this class, I’m confident that I know how to survive in the wilderness. I know a lot more survival skills now.”
Haug said that a lot of the skills students learn are relevant to being successful in any environment, whether it’s the Pine Barrens, college or the work world. For the shelter building aspect of the class, he creates teams of 3 to 5 students who must work together to plan and build their shelters.
“I want to generate a little conflict,” Haug explained. “They have to learn to work together and figure out what happens when things go sideways.”
The most satisfying aspect of the class for Haug is hearing from parents that the students who took his class are spending more time outdoors than they are on social media.
“I love when I get an email from a parent asking me why their kid is buying camping gear,” Haug said. “I hope they leave this class with more of an appreciation for nature than they do for their cell phones.”
Attendance increased 7.25% during March Madness Attendance Tournament
Students in Mr. Taylor’s (127) and Mrs. Hudson’s (Main Office) combined homerooms cut down the nets as the 2025 Central Regional High School March Madness Attendance Tournament champions.
In the championship match up with Mrs. Shedlock’s homeroom (101), the two homerooms were tied with 100 percent attendance for the week. Determining the winner came down to a tiebreaker – the average attendance of the first four weeks of the tournament – with the Taylor/ Hudson tandem coming out on top 97 to 95 percent.
During the five weeks of the tournament, which pitted 64 homerooms against each other in a NCAA basketball tournament-style bracket, student attendance increased 7.25% over the same period last year, according to CRHS Assistant Principal Adrienne Cangelosi-Schafer. The March Madness Attendance Tournament was the latest initiative in an ongoing campaign to increase student attendance at CRHS. The school also holds monthly attendance rallies.
“The tournament brought out the competitive nature in our students and staffulty,” Cangelosi-Schafer said. “It added an extra level of fun to attending school and students didn’t want to let down their homerooms. Although there’s only one champion, all students come out winners by attending school.”
As champions, students in the Taylor/Hudson homeroom were treated to a victor’s breakfast of waffles and pancakes served by members of the school administration. Just like the winners of the NCAA basketball tournament, each student in the winning homeroom took turns with the scissors to cut down the net.
“Jody Hudson and I were really excited to see how engaged our students were in attending school with the goal of winning the tournament,” said winning homeroom teacher Brett Taylor. “They deserve to be champions, and we are very proud of their effort and determination.”
Austin Barney
CRHS Director of Bands
Q: Can you describe your role?
A: In my current role, I direct the Central Regional HS Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Indoor Percussion Ensemble and Marching Band. I also teach courses in General Music and Music History.
Q: How long have you worked in the district, and have you worked in other roles?
A: I have been teaching for 10 years and 1.5
of them have been at CRHS. Prior to that, I taught various grades and levels in the Lakewood School District.
Q: Do you coach any sports or advise any clubs or groups?
A: Outside of the daily duties of classes, I direct the Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble and Indoor Percussion Ensembles as well as other instrumental chamber groups here at the high school.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Central Regional?
A: My favorite part of working at CRHS is the students. Their passion for music and performing inspires me daily to come to work and to be the best possible educator
Alicia Chevalier
CRMS Secretary to the Assistant Principal
Q: Can you describe your role?
A: As secretary to the Vice-Principal my responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily and monthly attendance reports, discipline reports and administrative reports, such as truancy mediation. I work closely with the Dean of Discipline and input resolutions to behavior situations as they arise. I often speak with parents and students and maintain a positive attitude and high level of confidentiality. I am responsible for Mrs. Carney's daily schedule and monthly calendar. I also perform many other duties as needed by the principal.
Q: How long have you worked in the district, and have you worked in other roles?
A: I have worked in the Central Regional School District for seven years. I began working as a substitute teacher in the high school and middle school. I became the vice principal’s secretary at the middle school in March 2019. I have also taught Spanish at the middle school and have been a mentor for the last four years. I find teaching and mentoring students my most rewarding work.
Q: Do you coach any sports or advise any clubs or groups?
A: I have never been a coach, but I have been the crazy parent screaming while my children played basketball and softball!
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Central Regional?
A: My husband graduated from Central Regional in 1984. My three children were choice students and graduated in 2020, 2022 and 2024. My favorite thing about
I can be.
Q: What is the most challenging part about your position?
A: The most challenging part of this position is balancing the different groups and ensuring they all have an equal part of my attention. However, I do find it to be a fun challenge to keep trying to balance all of the groups and make them all stand out in their own way. It's also a great challenge to bring the absolute best out of our students here at Central Regional.
Q: Can you share something fun about yourself?
A: My wife and I are expecting our first child this fall!
working at Central Regional is being part of this extended family.
Q: What is the most challenging part about your position?
A: The most challenging part about being the secretary to the vice-principal is multitasking throughout the day. There are some days when our office is slow, but there are other days when you have to be ready for anything that comes your way, because everything is being thrown at you all at once!
Q: Can you share something fun about yourself?
A: I have always loved to travel! I knew my husband was "the right guy" when I mentioned I wanted to go on safari for my honeymoon one day. Not only did he agree, but 28 years ago we went to Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa for that special trip!
Girls’ lacrosse plays one for Kylie’s Crew
The girls’ lacrosse team earned a hard-fought 10-9 win against Barnegat High School in the pouring rain on April 11, but this wasn’t just another game on the schedule – this one was for Kylie.
Kylie Williams, the three-year-old daughter of Joelle and Kyle Williams, was killed in a January 2024 car accident in Howell, NJ, involving another vehicle driven by an individual under the influence. In Kylie’s memory, Joelle and Kyle launched Kylie’s Crew, a non-profit organization with a mission to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.
Joelle, the head field hockey coach at Metuchen High School, is friends and former college lacrosse
teammates with Central Regional girls’ lacrosse coach Ciara Kvalheim and Barnegat coach Lyndsey Torre. For the second year, the two coaches made their annual matchup a fundraiser for Kylie’s Crew.
“It was a fundraiser but also an opportunity to help spread awareness about driving under the influence and the life-altering effects it can have,” Kvalheim said. “We don’t ever want to see any family go through this again.”
After the game, the two teams came together for a pizza party and representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office spoke to the two teams about the implications of impaired driving.
