Weathering the Final Days of School

How is your child weathering the final days of school?

With cummerbund and matching umbrella for the senior prom? Soggy field trips?

It may not feel like summer, but let the countdown begin. We’re in the home stretch.

These last days of school are filled with tradition. Everything from kindergarten plays to writing celebrations, clap outs and graduations, concerts and the stress of final exams.

So what’s your favorite tradition as the school year winds to a close?

We took the question to our Principals.

There’s excitement among the fifth graders, they say, moving up to middle school, and kindergarteners practicing their songs and plays.

The principals say they especially relish the growth students have made, especially in their reading and writing. When looking back at where they began to where they are now, “some students even argue with the teacher that it can’t possibly be their work,” said Principal Lisa Steiger.

Amidst the busyness of obligations and celebrations, are some really sweet moments.

Like the ice cream served at all the special events. (We’re pretty sure that Principal wasn’t joking).

The harmonies by the high school choir rehearsing “Hold on to Your Dreams,” a song they first learned in elementary school, were a surprise to the composer. That of course was Paul Stefany, who retires after 38 years teaching music. At the Hillside concert he was conducting with the same enthusiasm and energy as when he first began.

Former students returned to pay tribute. “You were able to get things out of us that we never thought we could get out of us,” said Dr. Ralph Dell'Aquila. “It was not just about teaching us music, but of teaching us living.”
 
Mr. Stefany is among the nine employees retiring with more than 25 years of service to Livingston Public Schools. The list also includes Roseli Arantes, Kathleen Engeldrum, Marlene Falcone, Kevin Kanaley, Robert Myers, Gail Ring, Carol Ann Scheskowsky, and Henry Stanek.

In all, 23 teachers, secretaries, custodians and administrators are retiring with the end of this school year, including Superintendent Dr. Brad Draeger. (A community reception in his honor will be 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 17 in the LHS small cafeteria).

The other retirees are: Rubens Arantes, Barbara August, Jayne Cori, Dan Fox, William Gallagher, Ellen Lazer, Marilyn Muzikar, Susan Oberleiton, Joseph Ott, Gail Pogach, Rosemary Smith, Wendy Spector, and Linda Wishnia.

Bittersweet is the word most often used to describe the feelings of our retiring teachers and staff members as we countdown to the last day of school.

And bittersweet for parents too, with memories of holding their child’s hand on the first day of kindergarten who watched them holding hands with their dates to the senior prom. (See a slide show of photos by clicking here).

And students? Well, we’re pretty sure most of them just can’t wait.

IN OUR SCHOOLS

Prom Goers Let Smiles Be Their Umbrellas: Rains hold off just long enough as Livingston seniors head off to the prom.

Vultures Take Wing for LHS Researcher: Caroline Cole is awarded for satellite tracking project of the South African Cape Vulture.

Assemblyman Takes a Tech Tour: EcoLancers, Robotics teams show the innovation taking place in STEM education.

Marilyn Joyce Lehren is the manager of communications for Livingston Public Schools.