FMS Newsletter: Week of October 25, 2026

Dear Fernwood Families, 

It was so great seeing so many of our students and families at Egg Harbor Township High School early this week for the Open House. 

Back here at Fernwood, we had a really meaningful week. We spent time during Red Ribbon Week talking about healthy choices and looking out for one another. I also want to give a quick shoutout to our latest Fernwood Spotlight Students. We are so proud of the growth and effort you show in our building every day.

Tonight we look forward to a spooktacular time at the annual Halloween dance!

As a reminder, our school district is closed for Fall Break next week. I hope all of our students, staff, and families get a chance to sleep in, step away from the daily routine, and spend some quality time together.

As we wrap up episode 2, I hope you all enjoy the week off, and we will see everyone back when school resumes!

Sincerely,

Frank Locantora

Principal

Student Council is excited to introduce The Fernwood Spotlight, a new student recognition program designed to celebrate the amazing students who make Fernwood shine!

Each month, three students from each grade level will be recognized, for a total of nine students each month. Students will be selected in three exciting categories:

The Main Character – The student who takes center stage in the classroom! This student demonstrates a strong commitment to learning, puts forth consistent effort, actively participates, and strives for academic excellence.

October's Main Characters are:

• Stephen Ramos - 6th Grade

• Cassandra Perry - 7th Grade

• Dylan Rios Brown - 8th grade

The Breakout Star – The student who is leveling up and making great strides! This student has shown significant improvement, perseverance, and a willingness to learn from challenges. Their hard work and progress deserve a moment in the spotlight!

October's Breakout Stars are:

• Jazlyn Rosa - 6th Grade

• Rashon "RJ" Harris - 7th Grade

• Jacob Wilk - 8th Grade

The Top Rated Student – The student who earns five stars for being an all-around Fernwood standout! This student consistently demonstrates responsibility, kindness, respect, and a positive attitude toward others.

October's Top Rated Students are:

• Stephen Henderson - 6th Grade

• Alan Ngyuyen - 7th grade

• Phillip Zanes - 8th Grade

Keep being YOU, Fernwood!

For the week before fall break and Halloween, students learned about the life and legacy of Edgar Allan Poe.  8th graders in Ms. McLaughlin's classes read one of his most famous short stories, The Tell-Tale Heart. Students explored Poe’s use of suspense, imagery, dramatic irony, and unreliable narration while examining the narrator’s questionable sanity. They followed up with a film version of the same title to compare and contrast the two.

The famous Chick-fil-A cow made a special appearance at FMS, with Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell from EHT Chick-fil-A as our NJHS students kicked off the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy!! The students also completed a “Swallow Your Fears” activity, challenging themselves to step outside their comfort zones. We look forward to growing as leaders over the next few months in this program! 

What a season for Fernwood Field Hockey! The team put together an incredible undefeated season with a record of 8-0-2, capturing the division championship and making memories that will last a lifetime. Through teamwork, determination, and an unwavering commitment to one another, these athletes proved that hard work truly pays off.

The Eagles were dominant on both ends of the field. The team scored an impressive 32 goals while allowing just 5 goals all season, showcasing an outstanding defensive effort. Even more remarkable, Fernwood recorded 7 shutouts with Maggie Lamb in goal, keeping opponents off the scoreboard in nearly half of their games!

One of the season’s biggest highlights came when Fernwood defeated Ocean City for the first time in over five years! This historic victory was a testament to the team’s perseverance, growth, and belief in themselves.

Leading the offensive charge were Tori Murphy and Maggie Corcoran, who each finished the season with 7 goals, and Raylee Hatz finished the season with 9 assists.  Their scoring contributions helped fuel Fernwood’s remarkable run and played a major role in the team’s success.

While the statistics tell an impressive story, this championship season was about so much more than goals and wins. It was about teamwork, dedication, supporting one another, and representing Fernwood with pride. From the defensive unit to the midfield and forwards, every player contributed to this unforgettable accomplishment.

Congratulations to the Fernwood Field Hockey team on an undefeated season, a division championship, and a year full of historic moments! The Eagles have set the bar high, and we couldn’t be prouder of this incredible group of athletes. 

Way to go, Fernwood! What a season! 🏑

The Fernwood Girls Soccer Team wrapped up their season this week. The team finished with a 7-2-1 record and 2nd place overall in their division. Skylar Navarro and Kylie Urban led the team in goals scored, and Eliana Korsachki was the team's assist leader. Team awards went to Skylar Navarro for Most Valuable Player, Gianna Garvey for Sportsmanship award, and Allie Butcher for Most Improved Player. Congratulations on a great season and good luck to our twelve 8th graders moving on to high school!

Check out the cast and crew for this year's musical - Shrek Jr. The students have worked so hard and are ready for the show! Come check it out on November 13, 14, & 15th! 

Shrek Jr. is currently under way! Come visit Duloc and all the fairytale creatures! 

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