New Providence Students & Staff Honored by Board of Education

At the Board of Education meeting last night, several students and staff members were honored for their recent accomplishments.

Robert C. Lucid, a Board of Education member in New Providence for nine years, was recognized by the entire board before a large crowd in the New Providence high school/middle school cafeteria.

Lucid has served as a Board President for two years, Board Vice President for four years, a Chairperson and Member of the Personnel, Management and Communications committees, a Tri-County Board Liaison, Negotiations Committee Members, a Representative for both the New Jersey and Union County School Board Associations, Special Education Committee member and a Government Relations Representative.

Board President John Wolak presented Lucid with two awards for his services to the Board of Education. Wolak also presented Lucid with a legislative resolution on behalf of Sen. Tom Kean, Assemblyman John Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz.

"It's been an extraordinary pleasure and an immeasurable honor to represent the students, the families, the faculty, the staff and the Board for the New Providence community for the past nine years," Lucid said. "I can't tell you enough how honored I am to have served in any respect and foster the educational system in New Providence."

Lucid was given a standing ovation by all in attendance.

Salt Brook Elementary School staff and students were also recognized for their recent recognition as a . The school was initially chosen for the State School of Character recognition and then put in a pool of state winners to be considered for the national award.

Salt Brook was judged and chosen for both recognitions based on its yearlong Character Education Program, which instills the same message in each Salt Brook student every year: Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.

"It's a testament to everyone involved, and their passion and commitment to Character Education, not only [Principal] Ms. [Jeannie] Maier and [Assistant Principal] Dr. [Joseph] Harvey, but the staff... and most importantly the students," Wolak said. "You are our beacons shining a light into the future, and that light burns brightly at Salt Brook School. If you can continue to do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do, you will truly be people of character and we congratulate you here today."

Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Miceli also congratulated students, staff, and parents on the Salt Brook recognition and introduced Principal Maier, who explained the tireless efforts of the students and staff in making the Character Education Program a success.

The theme program started six years ago, with a new theme each year, and was a vision of Maier and all staff members at Salt Brook.

"The message has always been the same, and the message at Salt Brook is, 'we do the right thing, because it's the right thing to do,'" Maier said. "We do not believe in giving a prize for doing the right thing, nor do we give a reward. Sometimes we'll give them a Dap, which is a fist bump and our signal this year, which represents 'Dignity and Pride,' or we'll give them a high five."

Several staff members were in attendance with t-shirts on that said "Do The DAP," this year's Character Education theme, and many students, parents and community members were also in attendance.

Before a multimedia presentation was played for the audience, which included photos of students and staff members doing the DAP throughout the year, Maier recognized many members of the community who contributed to the Character Education program and assisted with Salt Brook obtaining both recognitions.

Following the Salt Brook presentation, each school principal said a few words about each Teacher of the Year, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Miceli presented Golden Apples to those teachers: John Russo from the New Providence High School, Eileen Mondino of the New Providence Middle School, Marcia Wan Veer of Allen W. Roberts Elementary School and Jaclyn Kaufmann of Salt Brook Elementary School.

Board Member David Hasenkopf presented several students with Certificates of Excellence, including:

• Katherine Ge, grade prize winner in a diversity poster contest
• , Award of Merit from the New Jersey Parent Teacher Association in the Intermediate Division for Musical Composition in 2010-2011 Reflections Competition
• Christian Venturella, selected for the Intermediate Orchestra
• Patrick Trezza, organized an Autism Awareness Fundraiser
• Michael Iannetta, selected for the Intermediate Band
• Nicholas Xu, (not present), selected for the All State Orchestra
• William Turner, selected for the All State Orchestra
• Yuji Sugimoto, selected for the All State Orchestra
• Yolanda Zhou, selected for the All State Orchestra

Dr. Miceli also introduced the new 2011 staff members, who are:

• Charles Carell, High School Math Teacher
• Joan Rykus, Middle School Math Teacher
• Holly Pizzonia, Middle School Math Teacher
• Michelle Barone, High School Language Arts Teacher
• Lauren Zirpoli, High School Assistant Principal
• Michael Wysocki, Custodian at Salt Brook