BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer
DAN NEWMAN State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos looks at a gift presented to him by students in Ann Marie Maiello’s special needs social studies class at Middletown High School South. Kyrillos was on hand to present a state flag to the students after they wrote him a letter because the old state flag was in bad shape. MIDDLETOWN – Without a doubt, the American and New Jersey flags can be seen flying high at any school in our state.
But at Middletown High School South, the state flag recently received more attention than the Stars and Stripes in Ann Marie Maiello’s special needs social studies class.
“We were studying about the state of New Jersey and its symbols, and during that lesson it came to our attention that our school was in desperate need of a new state flag,” Maiello said. “The flag was kind of run down.”
The next step was to figure out how the school could get a new flag to replace the old one which, according to Maiello, was on the pole for “about two or three years.”
At this point, her students went to work on crafting a letter designed to get the attention of state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos. Last Friday, Kyrillos arrived at South, and brought a new state flag for the school.
“I had no idea that this school needed a new state flag,” Kyrillos said. “Thankfully, the students here told me about it, and I’m glad they wrote the letter and let me know about it. These kids should be commended for what they did.”
Maiello was thankful to Kyrillos for what he did for the students.
“This whole process moved so fast. From discussing this in class, to writing the letter, to actually having this all work out,” Maiello said. “This really has been great. This event is all about the kids and has nothing to do with politics.”
Kyrillos said that his highlight was not just helping to obtain a new flag for the students.
“I was impressed with their approach and concern for their school,” Kyrillos said. “I think it was important to be able to sit down and show them my appreciation for their call to activism.”