By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
MONROE – The Applegarth Elementary School opened its doors to students for the first time in a year last week.
According to Principal Dennis Ventrello, Applegarth School had been the Monroe School District’s middle school for many years and was closed for one year for remodeling and repairs to make it suitable for elementary students.
”The ribbon cutting ceremony signified the official transition of Applegarth School from a middle school to an elementary school,” Mr. Ventrello said.
The ceremony took place on Sept. 4 during orientation for fourth and fifth graders.
Several Board of Education members, including President Kathy Kolupanowich were present, as well as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Hamilton and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeff Gorman.
”It was very exciting,” Cindy Hills, a fourth grade teacher at Applegarth, said. “When I saw this school for the first time in April, it looked like a disaster hit it. Dennis Ventrello did an amazing job in creating a wonderful and safe learning environment for the staff and the students.”
Ms. Hills has been a teacher with the Monroe Township School District for 17 years, previously working at the Oak Tree Elementary, which opened five years ago.
According to Ms. Hills, the Monroe Township School District moved all the fourth and fifth grade classes from Oak Tree Elementary School, located across the street, and to the Applegarth Elementary School due to increased enrollment.
Applegarth is piecemealed together with the original 1936 facility, and several additions that were built in 1960, 1979 and 1984, according to officials.
”The way that you’re seeing it was not the way that it was,” Mr. Ventrello said, during a tour of the school. “The middle school was in need of so much (improvement).”
According to Mr. Ventrello, there was the enormous task of removing more than 850 lockers from the hallways since the fourth and fifth grade students do not use them.
In one of the hallways, there is a postcard-like image of the 1936 building with a school bus from that decade, put together by Mr. Ventrello in PhotoShop to show the students what the school looked like before the additions.
Located next to the main office is a screen that tells visitors the story of the school.
”(The screen) talks about the history of the school for the kids,” Mr. Ventrello said. “It’s just one of the improvements we made.”
One of the history facts displayed is that the Applegarth School was supposed to be School “1” and the Barclay School was supposed to be School “2” until the numbers were accidentally switched and cemented into place. Applegarth Elementary School is the district’s sixth elementary school.
Mr. Ventrello has been working for the school district for over 40 years, this being his third elementary school opening.
Both the Applegarth Elementary and Oak Tree Schools are located on Applegarth Road in Monroe Township.

