Jack Abrams School Retirees Honored at Party
This has been the month for retirement parties in the Huntington School District and one such affair was thrown by the staff of Jack Abrams Intermediate School to honor a set of colleagues who have manned classrooms for decades.
Teachers Jean Bartsch, Joann Kavanagh, Anne Kelly, Arlene Morante and Arlene Ricco were feted at a festive bash at the Thatched Cottage in Centerport. Among the crowd of about 80 were current teachers and support staff members, family and friends and several retirees who joined in the fun.
Mike Falco, Mrs. Ricco’s father, was also on hand. He served as the union shop steward for the crew that constructed Huntington Elementary School in the 1960’s. The building has since been renamed in honor of retired district principal and current School Heritage Museum curator Jack Abrams.
Huntington Superintendent John J. Finello and School Board President Bill Dwyer presented the teachers were commemorative plaques along with the district’s well wishes for a happy and healthy retirement. Mr. Finello began his teaching career at the same school in 1972 and later served as its assistant principal.
“Often times I think about what makes our school district so special,” Mr. Finello told the crowd. “Over the years, I have come to realize that it isn’t the facilities, the school buildings or their grounds. It isn’t the books, supplies, materials, easels, chalkboards, whiteboards, SMART boards, computers or new technology. It isn’t even the programs that we offer. It is more and greater than all of these combined. It is the people and interpersonal connections that are made day in, day out among staff and colleagues, with students and parents. It is these interactions that are at the heart of what makes us great and most importantly, it is that which makes the difference in the lives of children. It is what makes going to work worthwhile and meaningful. I am proud to say that I have had the good fortune of working along side each of you during some portion of your career in Huntington. So it is with happiness and sadness that I bid you farewell; happiness for the new and exciting adventures that retirement will bring; sadness in September when you are not here.”
“With parodies of songs and a reading of an edited version of Dr. Seuss’s If I Ran the Zoo, which was renamed If I Ran the School, the group enjoyed details of these unique personalities who have made such an impact in the building, librarian Patricia Dillon said.
“You saw each student as an individual, with individual needs and developed their strengths and supported their weaknesses,” Mr. Finello told the soon-to-be retirees. “As a result, hundreds of students are better off for having had an experience with you.”
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