Halloween parading in Sickles School in Fair Haven in the 1980s Photo/Kathy Robbins
So, a karate kid, a baseball player, a cop, two witches, a vampire and a boxer walk onto a school stage …
That means only one thing. It’s Halloween and it’s school pageant time — or whatever they call it. Yes, it’s that time when all the little guys and ghouls in school get dressed up and parade through the classroom, down the hall and into the auditorium for a spooky show of Halloween spirit.
Nothing like capturing the mood of the Halloween season with a snapshot back in time of little costumed goblins all in a row — on the Sickles School stoop in Fair Haven.
We’re talking class action; and, it’s not about a lawsuit — more like suiting up for a class picture.
That’s what they did back in the early 1970s. Well, at least one in this shot suited up in the literal sense. Figuratively speaking, though, this Sickles School sixth grade shot of Gary Verwilt’s class encapsulates that picture day mindset of the past.
Halloween in Fair Haven’s Sickles School in 1985 Photo/Kathy Robbins
It’s cool to be a good ghoul in school, right?
Wait. Is that a lobster raising its claw to answer the teacher? Why, yes, it is. The teacher is unfazed. But the lesson? Well, it seems that this day in a Fair Haven 1980s classroom is all about costumes and little to nothing about reading, writing and ‘rithmetic.
Students called her Mrs. B. She was Jeannie to fellow teachers. She was Jean Burgess — Nellie Jean (Badida) Burgess. She taught in the Fair Haven schools for 33 years. The valued longtime Fair Haven wife, mom, teacher, colleague and friend to many passed away peacefully on Jan. 28 in Chester, VA. She was 73.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School teacher aides of the 1970s, Joan Blake (far right). Photo/screenshot of RFH yearbook
When you’ve grown up in a small town, your memories often revolve around the comforting kind of feeling that anyone else’s mother, no matter their child-rearing differences or life circumstances, is a surrogate of your very own. That’s just how it is. The neighborhood concept.
Lately, in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, for the students who have little to no knowledge or cares about a vote on a $15 million plus referendum, it’s been all about school pictures. They’ve been more worried about striking that pose without some missing teeth, bad hair or the wrong outfit. Then there’s the class photo. Side-by-side posing and playing around, the snapshot is a lifetime keeper. Call it a class act.
The Borough Administrator Theresa Casagrande circulated the following as an informational alert to residents:
“Residents in the targeted project area have already been notified. A sign board has also been placed on Third Street notifying all residents who travel along that route and project drawings are available on the borough’s website.
Residents are advised that a police officer will be onsite at all times during the Third Street project. Most importantly, there will be an ongoing police presence to assure that all children have safe passage on their route to school.
Please try to avoid driving in the area if possible and be advised that vehicular traffic may be redirected …”
Young readers listen attentively as Sickles School Third Grade Teacher Sheri Kleinman demonstrates Making Connections — Text-to-Self/Text/World.
Students raised their voices in song during the Campfire Sing-Along —Storytelling Through Music event hosted by Sickles School Music Teacher Vincent Mottern.
Enjoying the Sickles School Wild West Book Fair are Samuel Sztoser and Summer Key and (back row, l. to r.) Sienna Key, Arianna Torrone, and Tyler Gilbert.
Wild West was the theme for this year’s Book Fair at Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven.
Marlena Redling, co-owner of Firefly Yogis, demonstrates a pose for the Sickles School third graders.
Photo/Fair Haven School District
Suzanne Mazzucca and Jess Patel left to right join the Sickles School third graders in a dance for peace.
Photo/Fair Haven School District
Shown at the Sickles School Pose for Peace event are: Julie Lombardo, Josie Lombardo, Olive Patel, Isabelle Mazzucca, Suzanne Mazzucca, Heather Lombardo, Jess Patel and Marlena Redling.
Photo/Fair Haven School District
You must be logged in to post a comment.