The Millstone Times June 2020

Teacher Appreciation Week Beloved Millstone Teacher Honored By Pam el

Though schools are not filled with students learning and socializing together, and the fact that some students will miss out on their own proms and graduations, the school spirit is still alive and well in many places. Hopefully by September of next year, the 2020 coronavirus outbreak will be a passing memory and grim reminder of what can happen at any time in our lives. School administrations and both parents and children should be commemorated for getting it all together in such a short time and adjusting to the situation the best way possible in order to finish out the school year. One Millstone Township classroom demonstrated their school spirit and would not let Teacher Appreciation Week go by without showing their beloved teacher, Mrs. Lisa Kennedy, how they really felt about her and how much the children miss her. An Appreciation Recognition Drive by was set up by 4th grade class coordinator Claudine Krosnowski on Thursday, May 7th at 3:00 pm in the school parking lot. As Mrs. Kennedy stood in the parking lot of the elementary school, cars filled with parents and students donning masks and gloves lined up at the primary school in anticipation of doing a drive by to show Mrs. Kennedy how much she meant to them. Mrs. Kennedy did not know about the event but was simply asked to be at the Elementary school at 3:00. Her husband Joe and their two daughters were also with her. Joe was responsible for getting her there and was also responsible for the State Police and Fire Department being there. The parade was led by a state police car, followed by DJ, Alex Nebbs. With music blaring, seventeen cars followed with kids carrying signs, flowers, gifts and cards, all waving and yelling to Mrs. Kennedy. The children remained in the vehicles as they circled around the school parking lot. A state police helicopter flew overhead and a Millstone Township fire truck appeared at the end the procession. Along with other classroom coordinators, Kim Paulmenn and Christina Baldino, Teach- er Appreciation week was a success for Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy has taught inMillstone for 28 years. My own son was lucky enough to have had her as a teacher. In her own words, Mrs. Kennedy described the day. “Thursday was an “AMAZING” day! I got to see my students drive by, shouting well wishes, words of thanks, and “I Miss You’s,” all while waving posters. I miss them so much and it brought me to tears that my class mom and all the families/ children went out of their way to celebrate me. I felt like a celebrity and am hon- ored to be their teacher. As we know we are in unprecedented times with COVID-19 and it has been a challenge for both educators and students. Tele-schooling is something we are all beginning to adapt to but it will never replace the daily interactions both academ- ically and socially/emotionally. So, today was BIG and meant a great deal to me to be able to see my students in person. Video conferencing is great; however, it will not match daily personal contact in a classroom setting. To see them today - masks, gloves and all - was absolutely wonderful. Words cannot express how this made me feel. The day we are all reunited cannot come fast enough. I’m blessed to be in a career I love and have such fantastic students. Thank you to all who con- tributed to this beautiful, heartfelt experience and brought us together.”

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