-
SHARING GOVERNOR MURPHY'S SHOUT-OUTS OF
NEW JERSEY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER!
-
May 7
Dr. Michael Salvatore, Chief Education Officer
Next, let's head down to Long Branch in Monmouth County to meet Shannon King and Kris Parker. Shannon is a bus driver and special assistant with the Long Branch Schools, and Kris is a football coach, and that won't surprise you, looking at Kris. When they learned of students whose families were having a hard time accessing food and other necessities, Shannon and Kris decided to start their own pantry to support the kids they work with every day. They took their idea to Facebook, and soon it received enough donations to supply 200 food baskets. But they weren't done. They expanded their effort to include a weekly hot meal. Some they made, others donated by local restaurants. Now they're helping families not just in Long Branch, but in other communities, too, in the neighborhood in Monmouth County, including Asbury Park. To both Shannon and Kris, New Jersey thanks you.
-
May 7
The School District of South Orange & Maplewood
Dr. Ronald G Taylor, Chief Education Officer
And even beyond our corporate partners, we are extremely lucky to have tremendous residents who continue to inspire us, so let's celebrate a few more of them. First up, here is Jake Ezzo. He's the choir director at South Orange Middle School. But on top of that, he's also become a leader of the SOMA 3D Printer Alliance, which is bringing together his students and their families, and even some complete strangers from across the state, in an effort to create face shields for our frontline workers. And so far, Jake and his team have produced the delivered, are you ready for this? 18,630 and counting face shields to hospitals across New Jersey, and even in some cases into New York, and they hope to crack 20,000 before the end of this week. So to you, Jake, and the entire 3D Printer Alliance, congratulations and New Jersey thanks you.
-
May 5
Robert Sanchez, Chief Education Officer
-
May 4
Dr. Scott A. Oswald, Chief Education Officer
And finally, we want to give a shout out to Collingswood's Patrick Rodio, who yesterday ran 20.20 miles to raise money to pay for high school yearbooks for students who cannot afford them on their own. From his run through Knight Park yesterday he raised more than $3,000. Given today's announcement about schools and this school year, this act takes on greater meaning. For some students in Collingswood, the yearbook will be their bank of memories of a school year that was unlike any other. Because of Patrick, they'll now be able to hold those memories. So to you Pat, Collingswood and New Jersey, we thank you.
-
May 2
Monroe Township School District, Middlesex County
Dr. Dori Alvich, Chief Education Officer
First up, 13-year-old, there he is, James Freeman of Monroe Township in Middlesex County. Like many kids his age, his parents give him an allowance for doing his chores around the house. And certainly there's been no lack of those with everyone staying at home. But instead of pocketing his allowance money, James has been using it to buy filament for his 3D printer, which has been turning out ear guards to make wearing a mask more comfortable. He's so far made and donated 500 of them to healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers. And James has even turned down offers to donate money. He's doing this all by himself, one shore at a time. So to you, James, New Jersey, thanks you and I hope your community spirit never, ever, ever dims.
-
April 29
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
Mrs. Debra Gulick, Chief Education Officer
Let's come up with a picture of a guy who lives not too far from me. First up is Bobby Hoye. There's Bobby. He's a senior at Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School, where he was also captain, by the way, of the track team. Bobby was training for what would have been his first marathon, the New Jersey Marathon, which was scheduled for this past Sunday. But why let all that training go to waste? Bobby concluded. He decided to run his marathon anyway, in his home, on a treadmill, and to use it as an opportunity to ask friends and family to pledge money to support Jersey Shore University Medical Centers COVID-19 Relief Fund. He enlisted the help of his friend and fellow senior Peyton Ming to help livestream his run. In five hours and 25 minutes and 16 seconds, and nearly $6,000 later, Bobby finished his marathon. He didn't get a finishers medal, unfortunately, but he has our deepest admiration and respect for an extraordinary accomplishment.
And for anyone who's ever run one, two or three miles on a treadmill, as I have on many occasions, that's hard enough. Can you imagine running 26.2 of them? And he did it. So to you Bobby Hoye, and assist to Peyton Ming, congratulations. New Jersey thanks you and go Bulldogs.
-
April 28, 2020
Hillsborough Township Public School District
Dr. Lisa Antunes, Acting Superintendent
"Hillsborough High School students Navleen and Raj Boparai started a Meals for Heroes, a fundraiser to provide front-line heroes with meals. They’ve raised more than $30,000 and delivered more than 3,000 meals. #NJThanksYou!"
-
April 22, 2020
Woodbridge Township School District
Dr. Robert Zega, Chief Education Officer
“And, not too far down the road in neighboring Woodbridge, 11 friends, I think they're all there, from Colonia High School have banded together to create Colonia Cares. Through their website, they're selling yard signs and t-shirts with all the proceeds being turned into gift cards from local businesses, which are then being donated to a local food bank, as well as to Woodbridge Social Services. Now get this. They only started on Saturday and I believe today's Wednesday, and already they've sold 500 pieces from their website. Wow. So to the crew at Colonia Cares, Harrison Brenly, Emily Christie, Jordan Dirkhak, Mia Kruseman, Carrie Leshaque, Nate Momenti, Emily Melendez, Victor Perosi, Antonia Pierce, Jack Riley, and Jose Roberto, we salute you. These are just three of the many, many good news stories across our state, so please continue sharing them with every New Jerseyan through our social media, hashtag, #NJThanksYou.”
-
April 15, 2020
Dr. Christopher Irving, Chief Education Officer
“The science director for the Teaneck schools, there he is on the left, Rolando Montserrat, came across the plans online for producing face shields. And his first thought was how to make enough to make a difference. Using his own personal 3D printer and borrowing three others from the Teaneck schools, and with the support, I might add, of the Teaneck PTO, and alongside one of his students, and that's the gentleman on the right, sophomore Elias Sanchez. He has been able to turn his home into a mini face shield factory. They just donated their first 340 face shields to Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, and God knows that Mike Marin and his team at Holy Name could use all the help they can get. They've been incredible heroes in this fight.
Additionally, the Teaneck schools have donated the goggles normally set aside for use in their science labs and gloves from their nurses' offices to members of the Township's ambulances. This is the essence of the community coming together. So to the Teaneck Public Schools, #NJThanksYou”
-
April 14, 2020
Ms. Eileen Schafer, State District Superintendent
And here is Zellie Thomas. Zellie's on the right, flying his Yankee colors. He's a community activist and an educator in the Paterson Public Schools. He has helped organize a small band of volunteers. They've named themselves North Jersey Mutual Aid. They're collecting small dollar donations and turning them into necessities for seniors and other vulnerable residents who are staying in their homes and aren't able to easily go out. They're bringing them everything from toilet paper to hot meals, meals sourced, by the way, from local restaurants, who are also stepping up. To Zellie and every member of North Jersey Mutual Aid, we thank you.
-
April 13, 2020
South Bergen Jointure Commission
Dr. Michael D. Kuchar, Chief Education Officer
And in Bergen County, The South Bergen Jointure Commission has been working with families of individuals with special needs to include the differently abled in our response efforts. They've been delivering 3D printers to their families, and together with their students, have been producing face shields. The first have already been delivered to Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. We are grateful to the whole team, especially superintendent, Dr. Michael Kuchar and his entire squad. I want to give a shout out to Stephanie McGowan, who is the third from the right, who sent this photo to me. She's there with her husband and her son. God bless them all.
-
April 11, 2020
Dr. Robert Zywicki, Chief Education Officer
Warren Hills Regional School District
Earl C. Clymer III, Chief Education Officer
“Just this morning, the man to my left, Colonel Pat Callahan, went over to Warren Hills High School near his home, I might add, and where his own kids went, were students and faculty members from there and nearby I believe Mount Olive High as well, assembled 15,000 face shields that will be donated to our healthcare workers. These two schools are often rivals on the playing field and in the gym. But today, they showed how we're all coming together to help others.”
-
April 4, 2020
NJASA Immediate-Past President Dr. G. Kennedy Greene, Chief Education Officer
“And how about this guy? This is Jim Hoffman. He’s a science and technology educator at Newton High School in Sussex County, where he coaches, by the way, the Robotics Team. His son Justin is a resident doctor at University Hospital in Newark. He used to work for you, Judy. Jim, the dad, is using both his personal 3D printer and the two at Newton High School to produce protective face shields for the doctors and nurses who need them. So, to Jim, we cannot thank you enough.
Gwen and Jim are just two of what we know are thousands of ordinary New Jerseyans who are doing extraordinary things to help us pull through this emergency, whether it’s by keeping a community fed or making sure our frontline healthcare workers have the gear they need to stay safe on the job; or, I should note, the work of the many community pharmacists, another group I want to give a big shoutout to, who have kept their doors open to preserve their communities’ health and wellness.”
