O.C. Education Foundation Hosts “Pajama Jam” for Students

By MADDY VITALE The Ocean City Education Foundation (OCEF) is sponsoring a free “Pajama Jam” event at Jilly’s Arcade on Friday night for Intermediate School fourth and fifth graders. Each student will receive a two-hour Jilly’s Fun Card as well as pizza, doughnuts and refreshments. The event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Arcade, 1168 Boardwalk, co-owned by City Councilman Jody Levchuk. “OCEF is always looking for mental wellness opportunities, so we reached out to the Intermediate School principal, Mike Mattina, to see what we could offer his students,” explained OCEF President Jennifer Shirk. Students from Ocean City, along with Intermediate School students from Sea Isle City and other towns that are in the sending districts, will enjoy the free night of games, food and excitement. Chaperones will be in attendance, and parents and guardians may drop off and pick up their students. Mattina was thinking of doing something special for the fourth and fifth graders as well, Shirk noted. “The timing of our email to him couldn’t have been more perfect. We realize mental health suffers when you’re not able to get outside as much as you’d like during these dreary winter months,” Shirk pointed out. “So, we wanted to come up with a fun way to increase real social connections between the students and get them out with their friends.”

Shirk said the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the decline of mental health wellness. That is why OCEF decided to host just an all-around enjoyable night for the students. “It’s a small service we’re providing, but we hope the kids will take the opportunity to come out — sport their best pajama attire — and have some fun on us,” she said. “They deserve it.” Throughout the past few years, the OCEF has made wellness a focus in the district schools. Wellness centers are in both the High School and Intermediate School. For more information, visit the Ocean City Education Foundation on www.facebook.com/ocnjef