CRANBURY: Students sing for Sandy victims

By Kaitlyn Kanzler, Special Writer
   CRANBURY – Students from the Cranbury School Advanced Choir and Instrumental Department along with Princeton High School’s choral group performed a concert to aid victims of Superstorm Sandy in Union Beach on Dec. 19.
   According to Chief School Administrator, Susan Genco, the “Sing for Hope” concert’s goal is to spread hope and the spirit of the season during a time where the community needs it most.
   ”Hope is what is most important,” Dr. Genco said. “Especially now.”
   Union Beach was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy in October like many other shore towns and many of the community’s homes were made uninhabitable after the storm.
   The concert took place at the Union Beach Municipal Building, which is being used as a help center, according to Union Beach Township Clerk Anne Marie Friscia.
   ”We have a supply area where people come from help,” Ms. Friscia said.
   According to Dr. Genco, more than 100 students from Cranbury School and Princeton High School would be attending the concert, including Cranbury School’s student council and kindness club.
   ”I was so inspired by (the students) and very touched by their generosity,” Dr. Genco said.
   Princeton High School’s choir director, Sarah Pelletier, conducted the high school’s a cappella groups, and Cranbury School’s choir director, Ashley DeAntonio conducted the advanced choir, who sang selections from its winter concert line up, according to Dr. Genco.
   ”The student council put together 300 goodie bags for students who are going to be shopping with their parents at the shelter for holiday gifts,” Dr. Genco said.
   According to Dr. Genco, the school raised $260 during classroom collections to purchase items for the goodie bags and that a local dollar store gave them 20 percent off their purchases.
   ”Overall, I was extremely pleased and moved by our students’ work ethic in preparing for the event, generosity in collecting for the goodie bags, and talent in performing for the residents of Union Beach,” Teresa Leary, an English teacher at Cranbury School said.
   ”Students in Student Council, Kindness Club, Advanced Choir, and Jazz Band (as well as other student volunteers who baked and assembled goodie bags), came together and collaborated for a wonderful cause, resulting in a truly authentic learning experience. I couldn’t be happier that we were able to inspire hope for those who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and I couldn’t be more proud of our students.”
   The Parent Teacher Organization also donated large rental thermoses of hot chocolate and many parents baked cookies for the event, including Board of Education member Jennifer Cooke.
   ”The families seemed to really appreciate the opportunity to share in song and music with our students,” Elizabeth Grimaldi, another Cranbury School English teacher, said. “In addition, the unexpected surprise for me was that the volunteers themselves were so grateful too, because each day they give of themselves tremendously, so this was an opportunity for them to be renewed as well. Our students relished the chance to experience the reward of goodness.”
   According to Dr. Genco, Dapper Transportation, the company where Cranbury charters its buses from, donated three buses to take the students and teachers to Union Beach and back.
   ”Without hesitancy,” Business Administrator Joyce Picariello said.
   According to Dr. Genco, Dapper was going to pick the high school students up, and then travel to Cranbury to pick up the remaining students before making their way to Union Beach.
   ”Dapper was so wonderful that whatever we need was provided,” Dr. Genco said.
   Cranbury School and Princeton High School also collected instruments to be donated to the school to restore the band program at the Union Beach Memorial School.
   According to the flyer distributed to students, the instruments needed included clarinets, flutes, trumpets, and drums.