Students, staff bid fond farewell to principal

Victoria Zelenak leaving Millstone for superintendent’s post

SEAN GUTHRIDGE Millstone Township Elementary School Principal Victoria Zelenak holds up a collage she was presented with during a surprise going-away party thrown by staff and students.

By louis c. hochman

MILLSTONE – It’s not easy for 900 young children to keep a secret.

But as the students of the Millstone Township Elementary School headed to the cafetorium on the afternoon of May 12, they did their best, many tiptoeing quietly while others "shushed" the noisier children among their ranks.

And when their principal, Victoria Zelenak, was ushered into the room for a surprise going-away party, the look on her face told the children the secrecy was worth it.

"I knew there was something in the works," Zelenak said, "but I had no idea it was anything like this."

When Zelenak entered the cafetorium, surrounded by most of the students and staff of the elementary school, cheers guided her to a seat of honor – a handmade throne with the letter "Z" facing out.

"We wanted you to feel like a queen in your final days at our elementary school," said LuAnn Anacker, a school office aid who hosted the party.

Zelenak is leaving Millstone to take the position as superintendent of schools in Port Republic, Atlantic County.

From that point on, pupils from every grade level began making their presentations to Zelenak and telling her what an influence she’s had on them and how much they’ll miss her.

Kindergartners Barry Lukas and Jon-athan Barnett spoke first.

"Good luck in your new job," they said in unison. "We well miss you. We love you."

Third-grader Alexandra Stasek said she, too, will miss Zelenak.

"When I am with her, I am the best person I can be," Alexandra said. "Some people come into our lives who are like crystals. They sparkle and shine and make the people around them sparkle and shine with them. Ms. Zelenak has been a crystal in my path. She will always be remembered as one of the best people in my elementary school experience."

Zelenak also received gifts at the party — a yearbook signed by the school staff members, a collage from the PTA and a glass bowl with the inscription, "Ms. Zelenak, Friendship and Devotion, Mill-stone Elementary School, 1994-2000."

Zelenak was named principal of the new elementary school when it opened in the mid-1990s and to this point has been the only principal the building has known.

Superintendent of Schools William Setaro, who joined the Millstone school district earlier this year, offered some words to Zelenak on how to handle moving to another district.

"When you go somewhere, you’re moving to do better," Setaro said. "But what Ms. Zelenak doesn’t know is that while a piece of her is going away, a piece of her is staying here."

Setaro said that because many of the signs of Zelenak’s accomplishments and many of the people she touched will still be in Millstone, it will seem in many ways that she is as well.

Zelenak told the pupils not to worry about losing touch with her, since she said she still speaks with students from years ago. But she said she’s sad to be leaving the district nonetheless.

"Wherever I go, I will never find kids as good as the kids at Millstone," Zelenak said.

Toward the end of the assembly, the students of the school all came together to sing "You’ll Be in My Heart" for Zelenak.

"I hope Millstone elementary will always be remembered as the house that Ms. Zelenak built," Anacker said.