Auten Road Intermediate School
renames media center to honor
retiring Principal Harold Blackstone.
By: Eileen Oldfield
Sitting at a desk in front of the fifth-grade students at a school assembly at Auten Road Intermediate School on June 14, retiring Principal Harold Blackstone had a chance to prove is smarter than a fifth-grader.
No, it wasn’t a practical joke; instead, the kids had a chance to honor their principal when they dedicated the school’s Media Center to him at the end of the ceremony.
The school’s staff started planning the ceremony immediately after Mr. Blackstone announced his retirement in February. The entire school had a part in naming the media center, according to Roseanna Mazzone, an office secretary at the school.
"We had staff meetings after Mr. Blackstone announced his retirement," said Ms. Mazzone. "It was a unanimous feeling from the staff members."
Staff members donated money for the media center’s commemorative plaque that the sixth-graders gave Mr. Blackstone after Ms. Mazzone sent an e-mail suggesting the program. Mr. Blackstone developed the outdoor classroom when the school opened in 1999, and is used for both classes and faculty meetings in nice weather. The Board of Education also needed to approve the suggestion before the staff could name the media center.
Getting the donations wasn’t a hard task, says Ms. Mazzone.
"He’s a wonderful boss," said Ms. Mazzone. "He made coming to work great for his staff."
One of the hardest parts of the assembly and dedication was keeping the program a secret. A slight waver in Mr. Blackstone’s voice after he unwrapped the plaque which he received after proving that he is "smarter than a fifth-grader" and announced what it was to the students meant one thing for the staff members: the surprise worked.
Involving the whole school in the assembly wasn’t hard either, said Ms. Mazzone. Since Mr. Blackstone spent most of his 38-year career in Hillsborough’s elementary schools, involving his last students was natural.
"He’s always there for the kids," said Ms. Mazzone. "It’s always about the kids. He’s a phenomenal man."
The assembly followed the format of the "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" TV show. Like the show, Mr. Blackstone wasn’t alone in the pop quiz fifth-grade students Margaret Cyr-Ohngemach, Alison DeCasperis, Joey DeLuca, Alyssa Dragelin, Casey Gerber, Andrew Koenig, Jeremy Kot, Lyndsay Kugel, Peter Miller, Edward Norgard, Carissa Otrimiski, Samantha Smith, Kevin Vega, Jerard Vieira and Morgan Windish took the stage to help Mr. Blackstone.
Students Samantha Ball and Tayjus Surampudi presented Mr. Blackstone with the plaque and a copy of the Board of Education’s resolution naming the media center after him.
The June 14 ceremony followed a similar presentation by the sixth-graders on June 13, and the dedication of an outdoor classroom and nature trails. Also, the faculty threw a retirement party for Mr. Blackstone at Roycebrook Country Club in May. Approximately 200 teachers and staff members who worked with Mr. Blackstone attended the party.
"I know for many of the students, you’re 10 and 11 years old, so it’s hard to understand my point of view," said Mr. Blackstone. "I’ve been able to work with some amazing people; it’s been a wonderful career. The thought of having the media center here named after me is very special to me."

