Ocean City resident Jen DeVlieger, a kindergarten teacher, receives a gift bag and potted plant from the PTA.
By MADDY VITALE
The Ocean City Parent Teacher Association has had to find creative ways to reach out to the school community to express gratitude for the work of the educators on behalf of the students.
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week but with COVID-19 forcing the continued shutdown of schools, the PTA needed a new plan.
“The PTA always celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with luncheons at each school and the district office. We do coffee and snack carts throughout the week with gifts and obviously we can’t do it,” PTA President Jocelyn Palaganas pointed out.
With the shift to online learning in March and the statewide shutdown of schools to continue social distancing amid the pandemic, Palaganas had to find an alternative way to express gratitude toward the teachers in the district.
“The teachers are still teaching the kids and we wanted to recognize them,” she said.
Primary School teacher Carrie Merritt is greeted at a social distance by Lindsay Dunn, left, of Ocean City, and her sister, Cailyn.
The PTA, through funds raised throughout the school year, purchased items to put into gift bags for each of the 93 teachers at the primary and intermediate schools.
In the bags, put together by Palaganas, are T-shirts that say “DEDICATED TEACHER -- even from a DISTANCE,” soaps, snacks, potted plants and cloth face masks.
The face masks were handmade by Heather McTigue Town, a 2002 Ocean City High School graduate.
Palaganas said the PTA really wanted to support local businesses as well during a difficult and challenging time.
“We wanted to support some local businesses and we also want to show how much we appreciated Heather Town’s work. She worked night and day on the masks,” she added.
Throughout Tuesday, Palaganas and other parents and their children went out to make deliveries, while utilizing social distancing practices.
District teachers Berseris and Christie Pontari lend a hand with deliveries.
Intermediate School Guidance Counselor Angelo DiBartolo, of Linwood, proudly displays his new T-shirt courtesy of the PTA.
PTA President Jocelyn Palaganas, left, and Vice President Shannon McAllister surprise teachers with potted plants and other gifts.
