BARNEGAT – At a recent Board of Education meeting, members of the board praised the students of the district for their fundraising and donation efforts over the past few weeks and during the holiday season.
The Russell O. Brackman Middle School has been participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraiser called Pennies for Patients, once again. In just the first week, students collected more than $1,000. This fundraiser encourages students to collect spare change to donate to the LLS. Last year, the students donated $3,000. As incentive, homerooms are competing to collect the most change for the fundraiser.
The Cecil S. Collins School put on the 2nd annual Christmas in Camouflage care package drive for soldiers overseas. Done during the month of December, this drive put together more than 48 care packages with the help of the Barnegat Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Members of the Barnegat VFW attended the BOE meeting, referring to this program as something these soldiers will never forget. One member even recalled getting a care package during the Vietnam War from a small town in Ohio, noting that this drive has a huge, lasting effect on the soldiers involved.
Superintendent Karen Wood praised the students for their hard work and generous donations, noting that “these are very special programs.”
Barnegat High School also recently received its first ever NJROTC program. This program put on numerous fundraisers throughout the month of December, raising $938 and participating in the Toys for Tots drive.
In other school news, the Russell O. Brackman Drama Club represented the Barnegat School district while performing at the Peak Performance Series at the Ocean County Mall during the holidays. As a tribute to their hard work, the Drama Club performed their dance rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s holiday song “Underneath the Tree” during the meeting.
Wood called the performance “a very special treat,” for the board.
