SOMSD Welcomes a New Principal to Town

Reporting and writing by Cecilia Cancellaro

School may not begin until September 6th, but South Orange Middle School was bustling last Thursday thanks to a new transition program for incoming 6^th graders as well as a Meet the Principal Barbeque for the entire SOMS community.

Principal Joe Uglialoro took the reigns at SOMS in July and, with his administration and the SOMS Home School Association, he planned today’s events to ease the transition for incoming 6^th graders, and to have an opportunity to meet current 7th and 8th grade students and their families. Before coming to SOMS, Uglialoro was Assistant Principal at Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School. Prior to that, he spent eight years teaching Social Studies at Holmdel High School and the Dwight International School in Manhattan.

The day consisted of two 6^th grade orientation sessions that included presentations for incoming families as well as school tours for incoming students given by 26 SOMS student ambassadors who volunteered their time to introduce their new classmates to the school. The student ambassadors attended a two-hour training session earlier in the week led by Uglialoro and Assistant Principals James Jennings and Cathy McDonough. In addition to showing new students around the building, the ambassadors covered topics including, 6^th grade tips for success, the lunch program, the locker system and of course, how to find your way around the building.  Said incoming 6^th grader Ruby Bloom, "The tour guides were really nice, fun and full of information!" Another soon-to-be SOMSer, Mimi Vidal remarked, "I liked that the walls of SOMS are covered in art, and that we got to play games during the tours, while learning."

In spite of rain, the Meet the Principal Barbeque was incredibly well-attended by 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students, parents, and teachers. Home School Association board members were on hand to grill, pour and serve and 250 hot dogs were consumed. Leah Gomberg, Co-President of the SOMS Home School Association, was delighted to assist. “What a great way to start an exciting year at South Orange Middle School. There was a great turnout and I'm glad the community could come out and meet Mr. Uglialoro. We didn't let a little rain (or thunder and lightening) stop us from celebrating a new year at SOMS.”

Students had many good things to say about the day and about their new principal. Mia Gladstone, a seventh grader and one of the student ambassadors said, “Mr. U is a lot cooler than I figured a middle school principal would be. He seems to be very down to earth and friendly. I think that he proved that to the upcoming 6th graders today and made a very positive impression on all of the tour guides!”

As for Uglialoro, he, too, was extremely pleased with the way things went. “I am thrilled with the turnout for the day’s events.  It was a wonderful opportunity for our incoming sixth graders to get acclimated to the school, and for me and the SOMS community to begin building a positive relationship.  After speaking with so many parents, students, and faculty members, I am even more excited to be part of this school and this district, and am eagerly looking forward to begin what I know will be a successful year.”