Local Holmdel School Has First Retirement In 47 Years!

The New School in Holmdel is a small elementary school teaching children ranging in age from 5-15. Their hands on holistic approach to education allows children in a family like atmosphere to care for one another and explore with open minds and open hearts - fostering a lifetime of love for learning and friendships.

The school has been around for 47 years and just celebrated its first retirement.

Jay Smith who has taught the older classers –age 11-14- for 44 years and co-directed for 35 of those, has helped to grow and prosper the new school since its childhood. Although he will no longer be a permanent teacher at TNS, he will always be a frequent visitor, a substitute teacher, a board member and continued coordinator of the ever so popular bi monthly New York trips Jay initiated many years ago– a day spent exploring different areas of the city visiting a variety of museums Parks and various ethnic restaurants and of course having an experience of travel and on the train and riding the subway.

Jay is like family and so his retirement does not come the traditional way -nor does the person filling his shoes. Ever since Jay started teaching at TNS he expressed his wish that when the day of his retirement would come, he would love nothing more than a graduate of the school whom he had taught to replace him. So when Rebekah Allocco, a 1990 graduate, contacted him to “apply” for the job Jay could not have been more overjoyed. Having attended the school from age 5 to 14, and also having worked as an assistant in Jay’s class during her college years, Rebekah felt very excited about the possibility of taking on the older class and teaching in the open project-based philosophy of the new school. Jay offered to co-teach with her for a full transition year - sharing his salary - before turning over his class into her trusting hands. However he would never be able to completely fully let go in his presence and heart. Because when you have been part of a family for that long and raised its children for over 4 decades, retiring does not mean farewell. It does mean that when a party is given for such a longstanding, amazing, loving, caring and dear teacher, that many students, current and past are coming to let you know how much you have meant to them. Laughter, chatter, dancing, eating, joy and tears filled the school backyard. So many people came, bearing envelopes with donations towards renovations for the school, which was what Jay has asked for instead of presents for himself.

However the current parents and staff surprised him with a beautiful king size quilt made from New School T-shirts - many of them originally designed by Jay, for school celebrations, anniversaries and school plays, during his time as a teacher.

The quilt was created and sewn by Cathy Waters, a former New School parent, in collaboration with parents and students. Hours and hours of love and work went into this beautiful work of art. Cathy had kindly and lovingly created a quilt for TNS before for their 30th anniversary and was delighted and honored to be able to create one for Jay.

"I was thrilled to be able to work with students, parents, and staff from The New School again to make this quilt for Jay. He gave so much to the school over the years. Our whole family learned a lot from him, not just our kids, Kevin ('99) and Kendra('01). Hopefully Jay will feel the warmth of our love as he uses the quilt in the years to come."

The look on Jay’s face, filled with gratitude, memories and emotion by seeing all the historical T-shirts together moved us all. Before Jay will take his stunning quilt home, it can be admired and enjoyed at Bernina – a sewing center in Matawan- owned by Cathy and her husband Mike.

http://www.the-new-school.com/

http://www.bernina-nj.com/