School Days

Cape Christian Academy
Students & Staff Return to Haiti Inspired by the difference they made on their first trip to Haiti this past spring, school nurse Debi Papperman organized a return trip with her Obstetrician/Gynecologist husband, other medical personnel including another local physician, registered nurse, and 11 individuals from area churches as well as 2 Cape Christian Academy students, Jonathan Spriggs and Jimmy Papperman. As a medical professional, Debi saw the desperate physical needs of the Haitian people, many of which could be helped by vitamins and other basic medications. The ten-day return trip left on Oct. 20.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. The extreme poverty is the underlying cause of such things as malnutrition, high infant mortality (about half of all infants don’t live to see their fifth birthday), and many bacterial, fungal and worm infections. Things that we take for granted in the United States like a varied diet, clean and safe water, refrigeration and sanitation, are not readily available to most Haitians.
In addition to providing medical professionals, vitamins and medications, this mission gave out 20 bags of rice, painted and repaired village buildings, gave out soccer balls and pumps to the children, and de-wormed livestock. Most importantly, this mission addressed the spiritual needs of the Haitians they met through prayer and worship.
As much as this trip was intended to minister to the needs of the Haitians, they in turn were an inspiration to the individuals participating in this mission. Debi commented, “They have nothing, and yet they still praise God, genuinely and from the heart!” During Sunday service, they even got up and danced while singing praises to God.
While the physical conditions pose daily challenges to the residents of Haiti, the conditions were also precarious to the missionaries. They happened to be traveling from one mission to another as Hurricane Sandy hit the island. They rode in the back of an old truck with only tarps to cover them and their luggage. During the two-hour trip, they were battered by heavy rain, strong winds, and detoured because flooding took out a bridge and some roads were barely navigable. The aftermath of the storm continued to make travel difficult, necessitating foot travel on mountain roads. In addition, the intense heat caused many of the missionaries to succumb to some of the infections common to the residents of Haiti.
“In the middle of this poverty, was a beautiful land with beautiful people full of the spirit of God and the hope that He brings to believers.” Memories of the Haitian people will be forever imbedded in the minds and prayers of these missionaries. Many of the missionaries plan to return to Haiti again soon. Several children were sponsored, giving them access to care and education.
Cape May County Technical
Cape Tech High School cosmetology students are now taking reservations for appointments. Appointments are available on Thursday and Friday from 12:00 to last appointment starting at 1:30 p.m. The high school salon is located in the Toft building.
For questions, please call 465-2161, ext. 325. For further information on Cape Tech, visit online at www.capemaytech.com
The Donna Wise-Kelleher Memorial Cosmetology Scholarship was established in 2008, for newly accepted Cosmetology students in both high school and post secondary programs, whose aspirations are to be a leader in the cosmetology field, and who have demonstrated a financial need.
Donna was a Cape May County Technical School Cosmetology graduate, an Advisory Council member, a Cosmetology teaching assistant and the owner of Salon Allure in North Cape May. She had a genuine passion for this industry and this scholarship honors her memory by continuing to support cosmetology students at her alma mater.
This year, there were two recipients who are first year students in the High School Cosmetology Program. Each recipient received an award of $300.00 to be applied towards the required cosmetology kit supplies. The recipients are Kylie Rodia and Ashley Hennessey.
Attending the presentation were family members, Marc Kelleher, Donna’s husband and two of their children, Hannah and Sophie Kelleher. Grayce Kelleher, Donna’s mother-in-law, employee of Century 21, and the founder and president of the Donna Wise-Kelleher Scholarship Committee presented the award. Also attending was Bonnie Allimong, co-founder and Vice-President of the scholarship committee. Jackie Holland and Gail Horgan are the High School Cosmetology Teacher and Assistant.
Dennis Township
This December celebrates thirty years of Christmas caroling at local nursing homes for Dennis Township teacher MaryAnn Hampton. It’s a tradition that stretches throughout nearly the entirety of Hampton’s career and is something students look forward to. Though she was a member of the elementary faculty for several years as a fifth grade math teacher, Hampton is now part of the seventh grade team. She still teaches math and leads caroling. In the best possible way, as some things change in Dennis Township School District, there are some that remain the same. Giving back to the community is one of those things.
“Caroling with students in fifth through eighth grades provides me with a way to get to know them in a different way,” said Hampton. “So many of these kids have such big hearts and just love to bring a little light into the lives of our community’s elder citizens. It’s wonderful to see.” Carolers will visit residents of four different nursing homes in South Jersey on the Tuesday and Thursday before winter break, December 18th and 20th. Several students have already stopped by to ask Hampton if caroling is on for this year since she changed teaching assignments. “Oh yes,” she assured them, “It’s on!”
Lower Township
Mrs. Parkinson, Mrs. France & Mrs. Casella’s morning and afternoon preschool classes visited the holiday train display at the David C. Douglass Memorial School. The children were delighted to see Thomas the Tank!
West Cape May
Mrs. Kobielnik’s West Cape May Elementary School Pre-School students display some of their handmade holiday cards, which were donated to the Cape May U.S. Coast Guard Recruit holiday stockings.
Woodbine
Mayor William Pikolycky thanks Woodbine Elementary School physical education teacher Jacklyn Merollo and her crew of student peer leaders who came out in the unseasonable fall weather Dec. 3 (it was at least 60 degrees) to do a belated planting of Red Ribbon red tulip bulbs both at the Woodbine Municipal Building’s “Holly Garden” and at the State Police Barracks in Woodbine. The purpose is to “Plant the Promise” to live a drug-free life. When the tulips bloom in the spring, it will be a reminder that the world is more beautiful drug-free.
Red Ribbon Week is an annual commemoration of the ultimate sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while fighting the battle against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe, and thus a reminder to stay alcohol, drug, and violence free.
This activity, reminding students to stay drug-free as bulbs planted in the (usually) chilly Fall bloom as signs of renewal in the Spring, was originally scheduled for October—the tenth anniversary of the Holly Garden’s
“Autumn Arbor Day” planting—but was rescheduled in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
“I find it especially fitting that several dozen of these “Red Ribbon” tulips were planted at the State Police Barracks, as Red Ribbon week was instituted to commemorate a fallen officer,” noted Mayor Pikolycky. “Our local barracks are in fact are named after fallen New Jersey State Police Sergeant Theodore Moos, Badge #2707.”