Community Shows School Staff Appreciation

By MADDY VITALE In a year when many homes became makeshift offices and virtual became reality, some people continued to go into work for their jobs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Such was and is the case for many Ocean City school district teachers, faculty and staff. Throughout the pandemic the district has offered both remote and in-person learning to its students. So, OCNJ CARE, a charitable organization headed by Ocean City resident Andrew Fasy and a team of dedicated volunteers, got together with some local businesses to give the members of the district some treats. This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week and OCNJ CARE expanded upon it, Fasy noted. “We called it OCSD Staff Appreciation Week,” Fasy said. “We got coupons and we called them Red Raider Special Coupons from four local merchants.” Board of Education members were also included in the OCSD Staff Appreciation event. Each board member will receive an envelope at the next meeting on May 26 containing coupons. Each envelope contains this letter. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Fasy) Kristen Young is an Ocean City PTA member who volunteers with OCNJ CARE. She has a child in the Intermediate School and two children in the high school. Young said she really wanted to show support for the district. “This school year has been difficult to say the least," Young said. "I'm so happy to be able to play a small part in showing our teachers and the rest of the staff that their hard work is appreciated and does not go unnoticed." Each school district employee received an envelope with a coupon inside for goodies such as candy, pizza and even a free manicure. Staff members got a choice of what they would like. And in each envelope was a thank you poem by Kirsten Fasy, Andrew’s wife, who is also an active member of OCNJ CARE. Throughout the week, the volunteers dropped the envelopes off at the high school, intermediate and primary schools. “In the most trying of years, we had to show our appreciation as a community for all of the essential members of our school district,” Fasy said. “Not only the teachers, but also the school board, the food services folks and the maintenance and cleaning personnel, administrators, nurses, counselors. Everyone in all three buildings did way more than they ever signed up for.” To donate go to www.ocnjcare.org. This poem is in each envelope.