The district’s full-day kindergarten program and success of the Helping Hands Hoagie Sale were reviewed at last week’s meeting
The newly implemented full-day kindergarten program at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School was recognized by the Board of Education at last week’s meeting.
The full-day kindergarten program was introduced for the first time this year at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Whitman Elementary School and Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center.
A video created by Lynne Promise, a parent of a Thomas Jefferson student who was recently welcomed as a staff member in the media center, highlighted the joys and successes of the program by capturing the children’s day-to-day routine.
“The job of every teacher is challenging, but the job of the kindergarten teacher, if you’ve never tried it, is perhaps one of the most challenging, exhausting, but rewarding jobs that there can be,” said Gary Breen, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School principal. “The amazing group of people that you’re going to meet tonight represents the very humble and dedicated professionals who give their heart and soul to provide the opportunity for our young people to take risks, make friends, learn about themselves and others and experience an environment which fosters a love for learning.”
The board awarded the kindergarten teachers, known as the “K-team,” with certificates of appreciation.
“Because of your expertise and enthusiasm, the daily lives of our kindergarteners are full and fun, engaging and enriching, diverse and dynamic,” board member Candice Zachowski said. “We commend you for your dedication to ensuring that the experience of our youngest learners sends them on a path of success and instills in them a lifelong love of learning.”
The Helping Hands Hoagie Sale Organizing Committee also presented appreciation plaques and sponsorship recognitions at the March meeting.
“There’s a great deal riding on our ability to raise money to help support the families that are in need in our community each and every year, but this goes well beyond that simple gesture of providing some financial assistance to those families in need. It goes so much deeper than that, and it never really stops becoming something very special,” Superintendent Joseph Bollendorf said.
This year, the 22nd annual hoagie sale, held on Super Bowl Sunday, raised $53,000 for local families and community members in need. With the sale of 5,000 hoagies, the success of the fundraiser brought the event’s all-time total to $601,000 and benefited approximately 30 local families in need.
“The support that we give each other and the support that this particular mission embraces is one that really lifts people up,” Bollendorf said. “It’s not about the money; it’s about the things that make a difference in the lives of people who really need differences made. I’m really proud to be a part of it; it humbles me to be a part of it.”
Among those to receive plaques of appreciation were community sponsors including Inspira, Duffield’s Market and Township Produce, as well as the Washington Township Police Department, fire department and municipality.
Individuals were also awarded in honor of former school board president Kurt Snyder with the Changing Our World Project Kurt Snyder Awards. Staff awards were presented to Gina Gallaher and Jeff Snyder, community awards were given to Scott Newman and Kevin Moore, and awarded support staff were Jenn Mullin and Margaret Earling.
“In grateful appreciation for your selfless efforts and continued community service throughout the years on behalf of all of our families, the Washington Township community says thank you,” the awards read.
“It’s really not a small group of us that put this together, it’s a community-wide event. It incorporates so many people from the school district, from the town, people in the community, parents, all of the people who volunteer, the police, the fire department,” said Kim Hinrichs, Chestnut Ridge Middle School teacher and FutureActs Club advisor. “We have so many people that come out and show up. It’s all about the kids showing up on Super Bowl Sunday to make a few thousand hoagies; it’s a really big deal.”
In other news:
• Technology Integration Specialist Kathi Kersznowski and committee members announced the school district will be the host of “EdCamp Happy Camper,” a free event for all teachers, administrators, Board of Education members, educational aides, college professors and college students who are interested in entering the educational field. The “unconference” style event will be held on May 13 in the WTHS nine-10 cafeteria. For more information, visit https://sites.google.com/site/edcamphappycamper.
• The Board of Education approved a resolution declaring April as Autism Awareness Month and April 2 as Autism Awareness Day.
• The Board of Education approved a resolution accepting the ordinance of Washington Township that will provide shared revenues generated from the payment in lieu of taxes involving the Washington Square Project.
