By MADDY VITALE
The Ocean City New Jersey Education Foundation (OCNJEF) ordered yard signs for each member of the 2020 graduating class to proudly display on their lawns, as well as to give them out in the community to celebrate an important time in the students’ educational lives.
“We ordered about 100 extra signs in case teachers, businesses, or other members of the community wanted to hang a sign to show some support as well,” explained President of OCNJEF Jennifer Shirk. “There are a bunch of parents willing to help with distribution.”
She added that the signs were not expensive because they purchased a lot at one time.
Shirk also pointed out that Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor was instrumental in offering the district’s support to assist with the signs. JASM Consulting designed the signs.
“Dr. Taylor offered the high school as a place for distribution,” Shirk noted. “Some moms of seniors have offered to help out as well.”
This most recent endeavor by the OCNJEF and the district came at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closing of schools countrywide, leaving students to learn through virtual instruction.
On Wednesday, Dr. Taylor emphasized in an email the importance of providing some positivity for the students in an important time in their student career — graduation, which is scheduled for June 16.
“This year, the pandemic crisis and the Governor’s order to close our doors changed everything that is typical and traditional for the Ocean City School District,” Dr. Taylor said.
She continued, “It is upsetting that we may not be able to hold end-of-year events on-site in our schools, particularly for our graduating seniors. Collectively, we empathize with the OCHS Class of 2020, as this is not the senior year that they or any of us dreamed of or could have anticipated.”
Dr. Taylor added that it is “incredibly important to myself, the Board of Education, administration and faculty that our seniors, who have grown up in the Ocean City School District hallways, receive a special and meaningful celebration of who they are, what they achieved and the incredible impact they are leaving on our Ocean City High School.”
She noted that providing seniors with yard signs celebrating the Class of 2020 is just one way that the district will honor this “unbelievable class.”
The superintendent also said she was thankful to the education foundation.
“We are most appreciative of the Ocean City Education Foundation for sponsoring the Class of 2020 yard signs. These signs would not have been possible without OCEF help,” she explained.
Each year, the OCNJEF, which is comprised of about 30 members, hosts two fundraisers and accepts donations from the community. The money goes to teachers in the form of mini-grants to purchase items used in the classroom.
Because of the coronavirus outbreak, however, any future fundraising is up in the air, Shirk explained.
“As a result, we are being a little stricter with our budget and since the school went virtual, the board decided to temporarily suspend the teacher grants for 2020,” she said. “We’re not sure what’s going to happen to our annual Red & White Night Social, which is usually in October, if social distancing still needs to be in effect.”
Shirk said the foundation is prepared to get creative.
“We will manage,” she said. “All charitable organizations are in the same boat.”
For now, OCNJEF is focused on something positive, in a time that is unprecedented and difficult. The yard signs will hopefully bring some joy to graduating seniors, she added.
“The OCNJEF board felt it was something positive we could offer our students and a great way to show a supportive effort from OCNJEF and the community.”
She said she believes it will be appreciated not only by the seniors, but by the families of the seniors as well.
“I have a senior graduating from Ocean City High Scholl this year and she was really happy to learn of the signs. The first couple of weeks of quarantine were tough on her, but we’re all managing,” she noted.
Shirk said, “She’s been a real trooper about everything. I am proud of her and all the seniors. Obviously, this was not how they pictured their high school career would end.”
If the signs are well received, Shirk said OCNJEF may provide them, with the school’s support, for all future graduating classes going forward.
For more information about the Ocean City School District visit www.oceancityschools.org. For more information about OCNJEF visit: https://ocnjef.com/
