Twelve Timberlane Middle School students were recognized by the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education on June 15 after earning second place in New Jersey’s No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition, a statewide initiative that encourages students to promote inclusion, respect and understanding within their schools and communities.
The students are members of Timberlane’s Restorative Circle group, which works throughout the school year to help build positive relationships, address conflict, and foster a welcoming school environment.
“The judges were truly impressed by the quality and impact of the work that the group submitted,” district officials noted.
Building Community Through Restorative Practices
The Restorative Circle program operates through a partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and its Youth Inclusion Program. Student leaders receive training in restorative practices, learning how to help peers navigate conflict, repair relationships, and move forward after disagreements or other incidents.
“A few years back we started a partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office,” Timberlane Middle School Vice Principal Michael Emmich told the board. “They train our student leaders in restorative practices and how to engage in questioning to repair damage that’s done to relationships.”
The circles address a wide range of issues that arise in middle school, from everyday conflicts and name-calling to more serious incidents involving bias or exclusion. Students are given a structured space to talk through disagreements, reflect on the impact of their actions and work toward resolution with the support of trained student leaders and faculty advisors.
Rather than focusing solely on discipline, restorative practices emphasize accountability, understanding and repairing harm. Student leaders help facilitate conversations, encouraging classmates to listen to one another, take responsibility for their actions and consider how their behavior affects the broader school community.
The program is also designed to empower students to become active participants in shaping school culture. By addressing issues early and encouraging open dialogue, the circles help students move from being bystanders to becoming advocates for inclusion, respect and belonging.
“Their goal is to teach their peers that you can always repair those relationships,” Emmich said.
Envisioning a World Without Hate
This year, members of the Restorative Circle group decided to enter the statewide No Hate in the Garden State competition, sponsored by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
Rather than focusing on examples of bias or division, students chose to center their project on a positive vision for their school community.
“Our students decided that they wanted to envision a world without hate,” Emmich said.
The students organized a schoolwide poster contest, shared inspirational messages during morning announcements and conducted outreach activities during lunch periods to encourage conversations about kindness, inclusion, and respect.
Their efforts earned second-place honors among middle schools across New Jersey.
“When you see the amazing work that’s being done in the state, it’s just incredible,” Emmich said. “To know that our students were honored as the second-best middle school participant is just unbelievable, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Students Recognized
Students recognized by the board included Eleanor Carlton, Brittnie Cerdas, Allison Ananian, Ashiraa Manchanda, Benjamin Lay, Christian Helmrich, Daniel Guarino, Dillon Horvath, Evelyn Erwin, Julia Goodrich, Maya Snyder and Zoe Means. The group was advised by Elena Maucere, Lizzy Fuchs and Michael Emmich.
Board members applauded the students for representing Hopewell Valley on the state level while helping create a culture of belonging and respect within their school.
