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JUNE 2021 FREE

Teacher honored by Princeton University

LHS seniors to graduate in person

Earning her stripes

EDiteD by Bill Sanservino

Lawrence High School social studies teacher Jametta Clark was one of four recipients of the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching. She was honored at Princeton’s 2021 Commencement on May 16. Teachers were selected for the award based on nominations from public and private schools around the state. They each will receive $5,000, as well as $3,000 for their school libraries. Other teachers honored were Mina Armani of José Martí STEM Academy, Christine Lim of Pennsauken High School and Andrew Teheran of East Side High School. “The prizewinners are exceptional teachers because they transform and impact their students’ lives and their school communities,” said Todd Kent, director of Princeton’s Program in Teacher Preparation in a release by the Princeton Office of Communications. “Though they have unique styles and teach in different subject areas, they all share a complete dedication to the growth, learning and wellbeing of the students in their care,” Kent said. According to the release, Clarke, “is known and celebrated for her ability to connect with others — and to get others connected. Whether it’s in her social studies classes, or in the hallways, See CLARKE, Page 2

By Bill Sanservino

Katie Ciuffreda holds the plastic zebra that is the LHS softball team’s mascot. To read more about Ciuffreda and the team, turn to Page 13. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Afforable housing approved Planning board okays downsized version of Texas Avenue project By Bill Sanservino

The Lawrence Township Zoning Board on April 28 approved a 54-unit affordable housing rental complex on Texas Avenue. The project, which is being developed by RPM Development Group, will be constructed on a 4.3-acre parcel in back of the Lawrence Shop-

ping Center. The lot will be purchased from the owner of the center and subdivided from shopping center property. The approval included a use variance and preliminary site plan approval. RPM must appear before the board again to obtain final site plan approval before construction can start. “It is our hope that allowing the board to review final site plan approval at a later date, along with the revisions to the plan recently discussed and to be presented on the 28th, will provide the board with the comfort that their concerns

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concerning the site playout can be adequately addressed,” said Ryan Kennedy, the attorney for the applicant. The board first began hearing the application in mid-2020 and held a total of eight meetings on the plan, which faced opposition from members of the community, who felt the project was too big for the site. That included a meeting in February, which had to be adjourned because the virtual meeting platform the township was using was limited to 100 people, and couldn’t accommodate all the members of the See AFFORDABLE, Page 6 June Hours Mon.-Sat. 9-5 Sunday 10-4

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After a year of virtual learning and hybrid classes, the Lawrence High School Class of 2021 will finally get a chance to experience traditional a right of passage. The class will graduate together at an in-person ceremony to be held in Wednesday, June 16 at 3 p.m. at Arm and Hammer Park in Trenton. (A rain date has been set at the same time the following day.) Each graduate will be allowed two tickets for guests to attend the ceremony. “We are so proud of the ways in which you have adapted to a senior year filled with changes, adjustments, and its fair share of uncertainty. Through it all you have stayed strong, flexible, and patient,” said a notice sent from the school district to the seniors. “Soon it will be time to celebrate a milestone commemorating all that you have accomplished during your years here at Lawrence High School,” the notice said. Meanwhile, the Lawrence Gazette’s annual feature spotlighting the high school’s top academic seniors starts on Page 4. This year’s nine seniors (one student chose not to participate) talked about their plans, shared a favorite high school memory and were asked to express their feeling about this year.

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