The Crusader Key A R T H U R
L .
J O H N S O N
K E Y
C L U B
April- May
N E W S L E T T E R
Welcome To The New Service Year! The 2015-2016 service year has begun here at Arthur L. Johnson Key Club and the upcoming future looks bright. With a new board and a number of new excit-
ing service events, this year will be great. The first month of the service year has already been a success, take a closer look inside!
Take A Look:
NEWMARK SCHOOL DANCE
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
SUPERSTARS AWARDS NIGHT
2014-2015 MEMOIR
Inside this issue: DCON
2
NEW BOARD
3
NEWMARK SCHOOL
4
RAHWAY RIVER CLEAN 5 UP SUPERSTARS NIGHT
6
UPCOMING EVENTS
8
CONTACTS
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The Crusader Key 2015 DCON On May 27, the annual district convention took place at Long Branch, NJ at the “Ocean Place Resort & Spa”. For many of the members, this would be their first DCON experience of their Key Club career ever. The weekend down the shore was filled with magic and thrill, as well as plenty
of opportunities to make new friends and learn more about Key Club. At the end of weekend, many members of the 2014-2015 board were recognized at the awards ceremony including Lucas Gallo (VicePresident) and Janet Vill (Editor).
Arthur L. Johnson Key Clubbers reluctantly rode the bus home as they began counting down the days until next year’s DCON.
Old & New Board Members
Posing before the DCON dance at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa’s fountain
Want To Attend DCON in 2016? The 2016 District Convention Of New Jersey will take place April 1-3 at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, New Jersey.
2014-2015 President and Vice President at their last DCON Page 2
April- May Welcoming the 2015-2016 Board Members President– Kristina Geiger Vice President– Brianna Lukasiewicz
In April, the Arthur L. Johnson Key Club elected their 2015-2016 board members and prepared for the new service year. The entire ALJ Key Club voted in an after school meeting after hearing the candidates'’ platforms. At the end of the meeting, the winners were announced. The new officers have attended two RTC meetings in the month of May to learn more about their positions and prepare for the new year. The new board has high hopes for this service year.
Secretary– Georgia Stavrakis Treasurer– Kristen Adamowitz Editors– Matt Gallo and Simonne Sequeira Webmaster– Zachary Chieco Ciara Feeley– Photographer
ALJ’s Key Club President & Vice President hanging out in an iPhone cut out at a meeting
...but also bring something new to the ALJ Key Club. I hope that our board is able to leave our mark on the club and help make it even greater than it already is…” 2015-2016 board members and club advisor, Mrs. Zamboni at DCON 2015
—Vice President Brianna Lukasiewicz on her hopes for this year Page 3
The Crusader Key The Newmark School Dance
On April 21, a group of Key Club members from Arthur L. Johnson visited the neighboring Newmark School in Scotch Plains during the day. The Newmark School is a school for special needs students ranging from kindergarten and twelfth grade where they prepare for future education and careers. Upon arrival, the Key Clubbers met four of the Newmark students and their principal who with happy faces and warm welcomes led the group to the cafeteria for lunch.
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After getting to know some of the students during lunch, the Newmark students shared their daily experiences at the school and their enthusiasm for their first semi-formal dance. Arthur L. Johnson's high school Key Club will also be attending the school's first ever semi-formal dance on Friday May 1st. Both schools are excited for this event! After lunch, the students who greeted the key clubbers when they arrived began a brief but informative tour of the tour. On the tour, students got an inside
look of the high quality technology in classrooms, the interesting courses, and the caring atmosphere the school upholds. Two rooms that the key clubbers were fascinated by were the sound proof music rooms and fully equipped OT rooms. The best part of the day trip was witnessing the students eagerness to learn and engage in school; it's truly an enjoyment to them. At the end of the visit, the key clubbers could not wait to attend the semi-formal dance. They also knew they had made a connection with some amazing kids that could join ALJ in future service events.
April- May Key Club Turns Green!
On Saturday, April 25th, ALJ key club members woke up early to a chilly morning in order to help clean up the Rahway River & Park. A range of members prepared for a hands on and muddy experience with nature as they suited up with water proof gloves and giant garbage bags. As the morning went on, students teamed up with the local Boys and Girl Scout Troops, environmental groups and other school clubs to fill bags with trash from all over the park.
One specific part of the park was a disaster where runoff carried logs and branches down the river creating a huge blockage of trash. At this spot, it was rare to see water that was not covered by plastic and glass bottles, Styrofoam scraps, plastic bags and an assortment of sports balls. Key Clubbers worked from the shore as Troop leaders with proper equipment actually submerged themselves into the water. Like an assembly line, the adults in the water handed litter to the key clubbers who then passed it over with nets to the Scouts who bagged the trash.
At the end of the day, there were multiple hills of garbage bags and a much cleaner river. The best part of this service event was watching the younger children realize where litter actually goes and the consequences that follow. Overall, cleaning up the Rahway River and Park was a fun and unique way to make a helpful impact on the community.
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The Crusader Key A Night Full of Stars!
On May 19th, 2015, Arthur L. Johnson’s Key Club members attended the annual Super Stars Awards ceremony to reward some of our outstanding members’ service. The ceremony kicked off with a few Kiwanis leaders announcing several scholarships to members like Taylor Webb, Louis Cacchione, Janet Vill, Lucas Gallo, Albert Martin, Raven Haub and Danielle Marzano. After the primary awards were given, the 2014-2015 board members announced the bronze, silver, gold, platinum and super star awards. One by one, members of all grades who reached a certain requirement of service hours were given certificates celebrating their hard work. Our club advisor, Mrs. Zamboni, then proceeded to retire the 2014-2015 board and formally induct the new board for the upcoming service year. The meeting resolved with a few emotional speeches from the former President and Vice President, who reluctantly said good-bye to their last Key Club service year.
2015-2016 Board Members with their awards
“Be The Change You Hope To See In The World “
Key Clubbers awarded the Silver Award
2013-2014 President Justin Beceiro and past member Nigel Sequeira catching up with club advisor, Mrs. Zamboni after the awards
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April- May
FKH School Parking Lot
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The Crusader Key Upcoming Events Tylor’s Soldiers Relay Team Car Wash June 7, 2015 Hehnly Elementary School Parking Lot $10 per car 10am-1pm Sunday
Relay For Life June 13, 2015 Arthur L. Johnson Athletic Fields 12pm-12am Saturday
All proceeds will be donated to the Tylor’s Soldiers Relay Team in honor of Tylor Collins, a student at ALJ High School . Members please bring in car was supplies (towels, soap, buckets, sponges etc) to support this cause!
Tylor’s Soldiers Relay team is completely full but support is needed. For more information to get involved, please contact: smills@clarkschools.org
Next Meeting June 3, 2015 Afterschool Cafeteria 2:30pm Wednesday
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Students and others can purchase tickets from any of the board members for the car wash or purchase the day of the event.
April- May Contact Information President Kristina Geiger aljpres@gmail.com Vice President Brianna Lukasiewicz aljvicepresident.brianna@gmail.com Secretary Georgia Stavrakis aljsecretary.georgia@gmail.com Treasurer Kristen Adamowitz aljtreasurer.kristen@gmail.com Editor Matt Gallo aljkeyclubeditormatt@gmail.com Editor Simonne Sequeira aljeditor.simonne@gmail.com Webmaster Zachary Chieco aljwebmaster.zack@gmail.com Club Advisor ezamboni@clarkschools.org
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