Students took some time off from learning to let loose on the racetrack.
Coastal Prep students dressed in gear and ready to race at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ.
Millville, NJ – Normal transportation for students at Coastal Preparatory High School typically involves a school bus or van, but not on this particular sunny, fall day. Seven students had the chance to replace those normal wheels for high-speed go-karts as they grabbed their helmets at the New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) on Saturday, Oct. 21. The outing gave students a chance to take a well-earned break from the classroom and burn some rubber on the racetrack thanks to the generous donation from the Greg DiAntonio Memorial Fund, a nonprofit based out of Wildwood.
Coastal Prep is one of only three recovery high schools in New Jersey. A partnership between Middle Township School District (MTSD) and Cape Assist, the school ensures that students recovering from substance misuse can also stay on track academically, thanks to specialized support. Field trips like these are a helpful way to let students unwind and enjoy life while they work hard through this process. Getting away from the desk and breathing the fresh air lets students de-stress, away from homework, grades and other pressures.
“Having the opportunity to go on these trips is so important to us and to the kids. Days like these remind them that they are just that – still kids, learning and growing like anyone else,” said Coastal Prep transition coordinator Anna Cannella. “They put in such hard work, so we’re grateful to groups like the Greg DiAntonio Memorial Fund for helping us bring the fun to them!”
The Greg DiAntonio Memorial Fund was established to honor the legacy of Pat and Kreni DiAntonio’s beloved son and member of the community who battled with substance misuse. The fund aims to support projects that promote education and recovery as well as remove the stigma from addiction in families. Supporting events like this one goes a long way to helping students on their own journeys. The non-profit donated a total of $2,000 to Cape Assist to help fund Coastal Prep’s field trips for the current school year.
“We are always proud to sponsor events like these,” said Greg DiAntonio Memorial Fund co-founder Kreni DiAntonio. “It helps us take away some of the stigma on these young people so that they know this moment in time doesn’t define them for life. We believe that they deserve the chance to define themselves through happiness as well as their trials.”
Coastal Preparatory High School serves communities in and outside of Cape May County. Advocates, educators, and professionals from Middle Township School District and Cape Assist have been providing them a safe space in dealing with substance misuse issues since 2019.
“This year’s donation has allowed us to continue a tradition for the students and even opens more opportunities in the future,” says MTSD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Toni Lehman. “Watching their growth and transformation, it only proves they deserve to be rewarded with fun experiences like these, where they’re also feeling continued support in a productive and exciting environment.”
To learn more visit www.coastalprephighschool.com, www.capeassist.org and www.gregdiantoniomemorial.com.