Summertime brings empty halls, blank whiteboards, and quiet board meetings to elementary schools. At their June 16 meeting, the Knowlton Township Board of Education shared a few small updates that mostly centered on celebrating the end of the school year.
The most memorable may have been the sixth grade promotion ceremony. It braved New Jersey’s recent relentless downpours by occurring outdoors on June 12. But luck held out. As Superintendent Jeannine DeFalco noted, “It was well attended, and the weather was humid, but no rain until about 30 minutes after it ended.”
Board member Rhonda Moritz spoke at the ceremony. As a thematic tie-in with her speech, she gave the sixth graders a parting gift: each received a pair of fancy sunglasses with unique colors and designs.
Other year-end events added festive touches to the school year’s close.
In what has become a beloved tradition, the annual Glow Dance brought both a packed house and a considerable amount of fundraising dollars. “There was a tremendous amount of in-house support and a great turnout,” said Board member Kristen Baier.
The dance also serves as a fundraiser for the Diane Davalos Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship honors the memory of Diane Davalos, a beloved educator who died unexpectedly in 2020. Every year, it’s awarded to a North Warren Regional High School senior who attended Knowlton.
This year’s Glow Dance raised over $3,600 for the scholarship fund. To date, the fund has awarded 13 $1,000 scholarships.
This year marks a special occasion for the fund, which granted scholarships to two students instead of one: Lindsay Caputo and Nicholas Sempruch.
In other festive updates, the kindergarten students participated in a planting day outside that focused on both the existing garden plot and a new space.
Board members also reported a spirited Team Color Day, where Board member Nicole Dabkoski’s homemade lemonade refreshed parched throats and won rave reviews. She was happy to share her secret: fresh-squeezed lemon juice, mint from her garden, and organic agave syrup.
In more practical matters, board members also discussed questions around P.L.2025, c.38, a new state policy governing students’ use of sunscreen and protective clothing at school events.
New Jersey’s state legislature passed the measure this past winter and spring with all votes in favor. Despite its apparent popularity among lawmakers, the policy raised eyebrows among board members, with some joking that it sounded like an April Fool’s joke.
Logical or not, the policy takes effect this fall, and several school districts across the state are still unclear on how it will affect staff responsibilities. The board expects more detailed guidance from the New Jersey School Boards Association in July.
And, lest any Knowlton students forget in the rush of summer vacation: Students who haven’t graduated from KTS just yet (or at least, those in grades 3-6), will have summer reading projects to complete before next school year.
Chip O'Chang is an educator, fiction writer, and lifelong resident of New Jersey. He has also written for My Life Publications and NJ Indy. He lives in the NJ Skylands with his partner, two cats, and and a bearded dragon.
- Chip O'Chang, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/chip-ochang-contributing-writer/
- Chip O'Chang, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/chip-ochang-contributing-writer/
- Chip O'Chang, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/chip-ochang-contributing-writer/
- Chip O'Chang, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/chip-ochang-contributing-writer/
