Key Club "Stops the Clock" at ALJ

A much anticipated annual Key Club fundraiser at ALJ literally allowed students to "stop the clock" in classrooms by emptying their piggy banks, purses and pockets of loose change and bringing it to school on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Teachers couldn't begin lessons until they finished counting the piles of coins on their desks. Teachers with the toughest classes were the busiest, as students tend to save the most change for the classes they most want to delay. In the past there have been some teachers who never get it all counted before the bell rings. The class that collects the most money is rewarded with a party of their choice, either breakfast, pizza or ice cream.

The winning class this year was Cheryl Rosania's third period English class. Students were able to collect $270, beating the school record for largest sum ever collected by one class ($240). The Key Club will donate half the proceeds of this event to Children's Specialized Hospital, the New Jersey district's project for the past five years. The other half of the funds will be donated to 'smedical expenses. The total amount raised by Stop the Clock this year was $2,003.64, $400 more than last year. 

Key Club is an offshoot of the Kiwanis Club and stands for Kiwanis Educates Youth. This year approximately 250 ALJ students participate in the club which is a service oriented organization. Members of the club are required to volunteer at least 26 hours of their time to community service projects and fundraisers. In the past Key Club has put together a team for Relay for Life, where besides walking they help with setting up and clean up. Each year they also "adopt" a family during the holiday season, and collect and donate used cell phones and ink cartridges. You can see Key Club students around town running car washes and other fundraisers all year long. Faculty advisor to the club is special education teacher Sharon Mills.

"I really enjoy working with these kids, although they really run it themselves. I am just here to help if they need me," said Mills who has been the advisor for 5 years. Seniors Dean DelVecchio and Robert Bock are co-presidents and senior Peter Buckley and junior John Ferrentino are co-vice presidents. Ferrentino said that personally he has volunteered up to 60 hours in a year. "Every second of community service matters, and you get to work with the best people," said Ferrentino.