Neither Greg Russo nor Superintendent Dr. Bernard DiLullo were about to let the COVID-19 crisis deny Johnston High School’s class of 2020 a tradition that has been celebrated on Cherry Hill for years.
So, Russo – with help from Mayor Joseph Polisena, PTSO members like Melissa Patrone and Deb McHale, his brother and Town Council President Robert Russo, and members of the Tri-County Community Action Agency Prevention Coalition – held a fun-filled T-Shirt and Ice Cream Party Monday and Tuesday in the Municipal Court House parking lot.
Joey Acciardo Jr. – a noted award-winning dancer/disc jockey who is the son of JHS football and baseball coach Joe Acciardo – made both events special by playing lively music that students and their parents danced to for around three hours while enjoying ice cream that came in many flavors and packages.
“Giving T-shirts to the outgoing seniors has been a JHS tradition for years,” related Russo, who chairs the Chemistry Department and serves as Student Council/SADD adviser. “We always held Senior Sendoff Dance at the conclusion of the school year, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was one more activity that was denied to students this year.”
So, as Russo said while congratulating his niece Sophia Russo on her upcoming graduation: “We got creative and our great Johnston community came together for this week’s celebration.”
Once Polisena allowed use of the courthouse parking lot, Russo contacted Court Clerk Richard DelFino Jr. to go over the plans that included setting up tables on the sidewalk and also hanging balloons and banners to create a festive atmosphere. The event went off without a hitch with help from Student Council officers president Nick Petrillo, vice president Caleb Lee, secretary A’amani Maxie, junior class president Nick Cronan, vice president Grace Centracchio and Student Council representative Trista Clark.
The shirts were made possible by what Russo called the “generosity of several individuals and Dr. DiLullo,” who provided the funds to purchase the T-shirts that were screen printed in the JHS colors of Columbia blue and white and had a Panther with a mask on the front and “Class of 2020” displayed on the back.
Students and their parents took pictures throughout both days after having their pictures taken for the June 12 graduation inside JHS.
Thus, PTSO president Melissa Patrone – who doubles as Chair of the Johnston Prevention Coalition from the Tri-County Community Action Agency – and vice president Deb McHale obtained funds to sponsor the Palagi Ice Cream Truck that was on site both days.
The coalition also hung a huge banner that read, “Say no to Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco … your future depends on it!”
“We’ve been able to give our seniors a special sendoff,” Russo went on. “I also want to thank my brother Robert for joining me to sponsor the ice cream truck Tuesday so we could continue tradition that all JHS seniors look forward to every year. Hopefully, we’ll be able to hold the Senior Sendoff Dance in 2021!” 1
SWEET STUFF:
JHS PTSO secretary Deb McHale, her son and senior James McHale and PTSO president Melissa Patrone are all smiles before enjoying ice cream served by Adam Palagi during Tuesday’s event. (Submitted photos) 2
SPECIAL SUPPORTERS:
JHS English Department chair Susan Volante, left, and English teachers Lisa Fresolone and Natasha Zito show off the T-shirts they presented to seniors Monday and Tuesday during a special celebration. 3
SENIOR SENDOFF:
Among those JHS students who enjoyed this week’s T-shirt/ice cream party were, front from left, Caleb Lee, Marlana Colardo, A’amani Maxie, Trista Clark, Nick Petrillo and PTSO president Melissa Patrone; and top from left, Luis Rojas, Kayla Rogers, Joseph Rotella Jr., Andrew Medeiros, James McHale and Student Council adviser Greg Russo. 4
MEMORABLE MOMENT:
School Committee Vice President Joseph Rotella, his son Joseph Jr., Sophia Russo, Town Council President Robert Russo and his wife, Isabella Russo, and Greg Russo enjoy Tuesday’s party held in the Johnston Municipal Courthouse parking lot.
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