To The Editor,
With another school year winding down, the Verona Education Association (VEA) would like to thank the community for the support shown to our schools, our teachers and all of the Verona Public Schools’ staff members. The VEA is the professional labor union which represents the paraprofessionals, custodians, maintenance, administrative assistants, counselors, child-study team members and teachers of Verona. This year, the “Pride in Public Education” program of the VEA has been pleased to support various community and school projects. Our sponsorships and grant awards totaled over $12,000. Starting off the year, the association contributed to the development of the new Verona High School fitness center by purchasing a commemorative paver brick. As they have for the past several years, the VEA sponsored two VBSL teams. The VHS softball boosters needed to purchase an outfield fence, which the VEA also made a significant contribution to. A compost tumbler, raised garden bed and vegetable trough were installed at the sensory garden at Laning Avenue School with a grant from the VEA.
The past three years the union has contributed to the renowned art shows at Laning Avenue and Forest Avenue elementary schools. Events at the art show including the parent workshops and mural painting are sponsored by the VEA. In addition, the Verona High School Creative Arts Festival receives a grant as it has for the past few years to purchase materials used in the festival displays. Other programs sponsored were Mrs. Jasterzbski’s “Hearts for Hope” campaign and the HB Whitehorne Middle School spring musical. The final project finds students at HBW awaiting the new water fountain and water bottle filling station. The students will also be receiving reusable water bottles to use at the station as the school works toward eliminating plastic waste.
Other programs sponsored by the VEA, in concert with the Essex County Education Association, include the Pride in Public Education Expo held every March. During the exposition, students from all six schools displayed their selected works at the Livingston Mall. This year, VHS students shared their theatrical talents with a performance from their spring show during the expo, and five Verona students were acknowledged with prizes for their outstanding essays.
The members of the Verona Education Association are proud of the work done daily in our Verona schools and are proud of its contributions to the community at large.
Carol Thomas
VEA Vice-President, Pride Chair
