Most parents look exhausted just talking about the after school agendas of their children — the unrelenting afternoons and evenings shuttling and rushing from one activity to the next. But the other night we had a nice change of pace: My husband and I along with our three kids went to an event at the High School North that left us feeling more energized than depleted. The December 6 Pencil Point Dinner was organized by the West Windsor Plainsboro Education Association (WWPEA) and raised money for Sandy-damaged schools.
The dedication, goodwill, and kindheartedness demonstrated by teachers and administrators who volunteered, made the event a success for those who attended.
The dinner was on a Thursday, our only weeknight free of extra activities and running around town, so I was on the fence. My sons, however, were not. Thanks to a little push they got from their teachers.
“My teacher sent another flyer home today for the dinner, Mom. She said there weren’t enough responses.”
“Did you RSVP? Did we send in our money?” asked my eight-year-old (several days in a row.)
“Yeah Mom,” my 11-year-old chimed in. “Did you look at it yet on the school website? I want my flute teacher to wait on us. He’s gonna be one of the servers!”
Clearly, if you’re in grade school, any dinner whereby teachers are going to be your servers is a highly anticipated event. What a brilliant job these teachers have done with their marketing strategy, I thought. “Ok.” I said. “We’ll go.”
Work schedules would allow for us to make it to the second serving, at 7 p.m. That, however, can be a tricky time of day to take my three-year-old out, it being close to bedtime. But, I told myself, we have our home to return to, we have our beds to sleep in. My children will wake up tomorrow morning and get ready to go to school — the same schools they’ve been attending since September. Their schools are still intact. I thought of the families who had lost these luxuries recently and for whom the dinner was a fundraiser.
As soon as we arrived my eight-year-old spotted his Dutch Neck School principals, David Argese and Nicole Baldo. They greeted us with big smiles, and a very enthusiastic welcome.
We proceeded to the cafeteria where we were greeted by the host, Dutch Neck Spanish teacher Dan Siegel: “Buenas noches.” He seated us at our table. Enthusiastic, smiling faces buzzed about in blue event T-shirts, some familiar, some new. Jan Grover, my son’s teacher from last year who had welcomed him into her second grade class in the middle of the year, came over to greet us.
Cold drinks were served almost immediately, along with a basket of fresh bread and butter and a warm welcome from Jenny Godnick of Grover Middle School. The service was impeccable! Bill Totaro, a friendly economics teacher at High School North dished out extra servings of sausage. “Perhaps we would be seeing more of this teacher down the road,” we thought, noting that our oldest child is now in sixth grade at Community Middle School.
A lot of work goes into serving 350 people dinner in two hours and it had been a long day for many of the volunteers. Some had been there since 6:30 in the morning, we learned. You would never have known it from the gracious, courteous service they provided.
Throughout the evening live music was provided by still other teacher-volunteers, Evan Milman from Maurice Hawk and Keith Vandoren from Millstone River.
As we were leaving, we were told we could bring the tray with the remaining desserts home with us. The teacher who was taking care of us went back into the kitchen and came back with two more candy canes, so that each of the kids would have one. She gave my three-year-old one of the balloons (centerpieces) to take home, too. You would have thought all these things had been given to her by Santa himself she was so happy on her way out.
Debbie Baer, president of the Teacher’s Association, and a small committee of teachers organized the event. Together they performed an outstanding service for those communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
Over $5,000 was raised. A number of people gave donations in addition to purchasing their tickets. More than 100 teachers and administrators volunteered in some way. Senator Linda Greenstein came by as did Superintendent Victoria Kniewel and Deputy Superintendent David Aderhold. And because the event was underwritten by NJEA, 100 percent of the proceeds went to the Hurricane Sandy Get Kids Back to School Fund.
There was an added bonus that came with dinner — one that went unadvertised. This was a great way to remind our kids what the holiday season should be all about.
