Typically, many of us have two main places in our lives - home and work. These are places where we spend most of our time. If a typical day is split between 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours at work (although this may be much more especially when a commute is involved), that only leaves 8 hours for everything else. Some of this time will be spent at home, and aside from sleeping or eating that means that fewer than 8 hours are left to accomplish all that you want to do. We all know how precious time is and that it should not be squandered. So the question to be asked is, Where is my Third Place?

Ray Oldenburg coined the phrase “Third Place” in his book, The Great Good Place. He called Third Places the “anchors” of community life. These places can include places of worship, cafes, clubs, libraries, gyms, parks, and more. Basically, it is a place where you like to spend your free time in public. This last piece is very important. Your Third Place is not the place where you sit by yourself in a room closed off from the rest of society, it is the opposite. According to Oldenburg, a Third Place fosters creative interaction, and allows you to encounter familiar faces and make new acquaintances. Being involved in your Third Place fights loneliness and is good for society.

For students, their First and Second Places are home and school. But their Third Place is for them to pursue their individual interests and shine. This is where they get to explore things that interest them and determine whether they wish to follow a path that could determine their future or stay involved because they are passionate about their interest.

Montville Township Public Schools offers approximately 150 field trips per year to students at all levels as part of the curriculum. Additionally, students can sign up to join one, or several, of the 112 clubs offered. They can also select from 18 different athletic teams. All of these opportunities are provided by the district to enrich the lives of the students and expose them to people, places, and things they may never have encountered. These Third Places offer students a wide range of opportunities to explore, try something new, and delve deeply into an area of interest they love.

Getting involved at a Third Place starts early. At Woodmont Elementary School, Student Council Members (STUCO) shared why they joined this club.

“I like being in STUCO because you can help people in need, just like what we did at the toy drive. Also, I love to help people!” - Rachel Manalang, grade 4

“I love being a part of the Student Council because of all we do for other people. I got involved because we would be doing good for other people." - Adi Pedapudi, grade 5

“I like being a part of the Student Council because we get to help people and we get to donate to people in need like when we did the toy drive. We also get to teach all the grades about what is happening in the world so they're aware like the hurricane that happened in Florida.” - Gabby Romano, grade 4

“Student Council is the most exciting part of my day! I like being a part of STUCO because you get to help people in need. Also you make people aware of things like what happened in Florida. I think this teaches and encourages people a lot! From helping people in need to helping each other.” - Annabel Kotowski, grade 4

Giuliana Giudice, a 7th grader at Robert L. Lazar Middle School, loves sharing her voice for others as the Vice President of Student Council. She feels fulfilled making changes to benefit the students. Currently, Giuliana is organizing a fundraiser for relief to the people in need due to the Los Angeles fires.

“I believe it is very important to give back and help others,” Giuliana explained. This attitude is what drives her to want to become a teacher later on as a career.

Assistant Principal and Student Council Advisor to Giuliana, Michael Shera, believes that teaching “is still my identity. I love to work with kids to develop their leadership skills. As the advisor of the club, I empower the students and enjoy watching them grow.”

At Montville Township High School (MTHS), senior Ryan Cortes is an active participant in the theater program. He has enjoyed all of his roles in the musicals and plays and is looking forward to the Spring production of Big Fish. What Ryan enjoys most about being involved in the theater is the opportunity to “be something other than myself. I get to escape and be free. I find it very soothing.” But what he enjoys most about performing is wanting the audience to feel the emotion of the performance whether it is sorrow or happiness. “That is what motivates me.”

Although he enjoys being a base player the most, Logan Rendeiro, also a senior, is involved in all the music programs offered at MTHS. “I feel drawn to music,” Logan said. Similar to Ryan, Logan wants to inspire the audience. “When I look out at the crowd, I want to see them feeling the emotion of the music. I want to see the expressions of happiness or sadness and enjoy what is being performed. It is beautiful when it all comes together.”

No matter what the age, students are taking advantage of all the Third Places offered by the district. They are motivated, involved, and learning about the world in so many ways. How they spend their leisure time says a lot about who they are as an individual. While some students enjoy engaging in the arts and athletics, still more are motivated by helping others in need…and I cannot think of a better Place to spend one-Third of one's time.

The "Superintendent's Column"
by Dr. Thomas A. Gorman also appears in "The Citizen" newspaper and on-line at "MontvilleTAP"