Try a little kindness

West Amwell students are learning to be kind to each other duing Kindness Week at the elementary school.

By: Mae Rhine
   WEST AMWELL — West Amwell students are learning how to be kind to each other.
   The school has celebrated Kindness Week for nine years now, according to guidance counselor Debbie Yacyk, adding it once was called National Random Acts of Kindness Week.
   "It’s to raise awareness," she said. "We teach how to be kind to others and how you feel. You feel good, they feel good" when they’re nice to each other.
   Each class decides what it’s going to do during the week. For example, Barbara Wilson’s kindergarten class made breakfast bags for needy people. The other kindergarten class, taught by Jeanie Powell, made Valentines for food trays at Hunterdon Care Center as well as "coupons" for parents of things the children promised to do at home.
   The first-grade classes of Susan Spano and Ellen Ramberg made hearts that said kind things about each other and learned a song about friends.
   The second-grade classes of Gail Robinson and Kristin Thatcher made kindness candies — composed of cellophane to look like candy wrappers — and gave them to staff members.
   The third-grade class of Justin Holohan gave up part of their allowances to buy food and clothing for the poor. Eileen Keefe’s third-graders collected used toys and books to donate to charity.
   Trudy Godown’s fourth-graders made a video for a soldier and former West Amwell student, Bobby Marriott, a Marine now stationed in North Carolina. They talked, wrote poems or drew pictures, then all sang "Proud to Be an American" on the video.
   The fourth-grade class of Beth Sargeaunt wrote letters to Mr. Marriott and sent snacks as "care packages."
   The fifth-grade classes of Howard Jeavons and Shelly DiSalvi wrote words of encouragement and "positive phrases" for teachers and other faculty members and put them on each one’s classroom door.
   Finally, the sixth-graders, taught by Donna McKee and Larry Nemeth, worked with first-graders to make gift baskets and thank-you letters for the bus drivers.
   It’s all part of a yearlong program called "Character Counts." It includes "six pillars." The first semester was the first pillar of trustworthiness; the second, respect and caring; the third, responsibility and fairness; and the last, citizenship.
   But the highlight of the week were scheduled to come yesterday (Feb. 12) when the school was set to have an assembly to honor former longtime Superintendent Anthony DeCanzio. The children worked painstakingly on their projects from a giant puzzle to books on what Mr. DeCanzio should do during his retirement and what his next career should be.
   The results were amusing and touching.
   First-graders put together illustrations on what Mr. DeCanzio could do now that he’s retired. Each illustration was laminated and put together as a book that featured a cartoon dog lounging in a beach chair, sipping a drink and sitting under an umbrella.
   Catherine Resichman felt Mr. DeCanzio now would have time to read a book while Joey Quinn felt he could take "a very long nap."
   Amy Dupuis wanted him to "come back and visit us." Cassie Fresco pooh-poohed that idea and said he should "have fun in Las Vegas."
   Jimmy Eick felt he should go to the beach while Jared Bogdan said he should "go fishing in the bay," and Ashley Luster felt he should take a more interesting trip to Disney World.
   Brett Lelie said he should "take a friend to a restaurant and have dinner." But Hunter McGuire wanted Mr. DeCanzio to "go to Atlantic City and win $10 million."
   Tiffany Moran wanted him to do some arts and crafts while Julie Wyckmans felt he should take "a long shower."
   Kylie Fine said Mr. DeCanzio should "spend time talking with friends." Danny Ricany felt he should go fishing.
   Devon Troutman wanted Mr. DeCanzio to watch football — even though the season’s over with now — while Kaycee Zelkovsky felt he should sleep late.
   Katie Haney said he would have more time to walk his dog while Tyler Barrett felt he would have more time to have milk and cookies.
   Julie Maier felt he should swim at the beach.
   But Sarah McCaffrey had her own idea of heaven.
   "You should sit in the Jacuzzi, eat pizza, drink soda and watch a big-screen TV," she wrote.
   Mike Beekman felt Mr. DeCanzio should take advantage of the weather and go ice fishing. But Louis Arcamone wanted him to go to the stadium and watch the Eagles game.
   And Danielle Mundhenk told him he’d have time to think.
   Sixth-graders made a scrapbook titled, "Where in the World is Mr. DeCanzio?"
   The students had some amazing ideas.
   Courtney Garzoni thought he was in the NBA while Corrine Hart thought he was pretending to be Santa.
   Patty McDonough said he was "the new Blue Box Kid," while Kaity Foder felt he might be on a safari to Africa.
   Grace and Kate Gulick-Tuers guessed he was "shreddin’ the slopes at Shawnee" while Chad Polak hinted he was working at Area 51.
   Leslie Parsons apparently felt Mr. DeCanzio was up in age because she thought he was giving out stickers at Wal-Mart. Carrie Sherratt-Bado disagreed, feeling he was scuba diving at the beach.
   Molly Bob thought he was on vacation in Florida. But Alex Baran was insistent he was a secret agent for the FBI.
   Stephanie Davis dreamed he was around the world, looking for the end of the rainbow. R.J. Fulper thought he was a pro snowboarder.
   Russell Miller felt he might he a hot dog vendor.
   But Chelsa Cavalier thought he was learning the hula in Hawaii, while Josh Skibbee said he was working at 7-Eleven, saying "Thank you. Come again."
   Wyatt Riggs disagreed, saying he was working at Taco Bell with the chalupa dog. But Cori Muscatell had loftier ideas, saying Mr. DeCanzio was "up in space."
   Whitney Stewart believed he was surfing at Miami Beach. But Angelique Paltas thought he was a camera man for the Discovery Channel.
   Kristina Wengryn was more practical, saying Mr. DeCanzio was "snoozing on the couch in front of the TV."
   But Kristin Armstrong believed he was a music video director.
   Tory Gordon felt he was relaxing on a Mexican beach. But Krystal Lewis sniffed he was a kindergarten teacher at another school.
   Dilynn Hutchansel thought he went back to school. Kristen Tomasello said he was "eating bananas in the Bahamas."
   But Sarah Irgang felt he was on a safari, and she illustrated her cartoon with one man saying "Looks like we’re having roast zebra tonight" with the other one saying "Oh, impressive!"
   Fifth-graders dispensed some advice to Mr. DeCanzio.
   Calder Powell said he should waste money and live in a car. Sara Allen felt he should get senior discounts.
   Stanley Field told him to buy new sneakers and go shopping, in that order.
   Kyle Smith had more grandiose illusions, telling his former superintendent to have the walls of his house made into a huge aquarium.
   Ryan Richardson was more blunt: "Never work again."
   Billy Ducsak made a comment about a hair style. Jack Dienes told him to buy a Jaguar.
   Chris Lewis signed and said "nap for three days" while adding some practical advice to the stalwart Eagles fan: "Get a new team (Cowboys)."
   Matthew Threatt-Peters thought he should coach his own football team.
   Carrie Hornberger felt he should get a butler to take care of his house, while Matthew MacKinney said he should "hit the lottery for $50 million."
   Other classes also got in the act.
   Kindergartners explained what they thought retirement was and gave him suggestions on a new career.
   Wendy Davis felt he should work in a vet’s office while Kelly Sullivan thought it should be a pet store.
   Lena Sabidussi told him to go to a baseball game and play. Madison Storcella said work at the mall.
   Shane Carey said go to work and use a computer. Renay Stover said be a horseback riding teacher.
   Robby Quinn said he should be a science teacher "and make stuff with fire." Brianna Myers said to sell ice cream.
   Clay Hope thought he should be given a car to go to the park. Tyler Frazee felt he should be a mailman.
   Amanda Wengryn told him to work at the grocery store while Nathaniel Tettemer said to drive a snow truck.
   Richard Roy said, "Be a police officer and bring bad people to jail," while Brennan Carey said, "Rest. Wake up again and look for bad people."
   Cydney Caldwell said Mr. DeCanzio should go to Australia and see kangaroos while Mark Stiefel told him to be a cookie maker.
   Myles Johnson said he should "wrestle with Dr. (Todd) Fay" — the new superintendent — "and the winner can be principal."
   Julia Greenwood said he should write stories in a magazine.
   Second-graders made a giant retirement puzzle that included notes on why they felt Mr. DeCanzio was special.
   Third-graders made a book to remember them by and a giant football card for all students to sign.
   Fourth-graders made a video and interviewed other students sitting in Mr. DeCanzio’s old chair.