Dear Thomas Jefferson Families,
As we near the end of our school year, I look back at most recently the COVID-19 pandemic and think about how it has impacted us as a Rockaway Borough community, our school and then also my own personal family-life. I recently had a discussion with one of our teachers about how this reminds us of the great freedoms we had in going about our daily lives. The feelings of safety and the sense of security. How we sometimes used to take for granted and even complain about going to Shop-Rite or other stores-yet now, I still am very hesitant to go into stores, but I look forward again to the days of freely traveling to where I would like to go and not think twice (or even complain) about it.
This has made me think even more of showing gratefulness, thankfulness and letting others know when they are appreciated. On this day, I want to spread an enormous thank you to four of our parent groups. Thank you to our Homeroom Parents for working in partnership with our teachers and hosting such great events for our students. To the Rockaway Borough Education Foundation for approving curriculum based grants to help create, strengthen and supplement so many programs in supporting our teachers as they work with our children. To our Home and School Association for their approval of grants in supplementing school programs and activities, and this year their incredible generosity in paying the majority of the cost toward our 8th grade award plaques in a time when small businesses are struggling. And finally, to our TJ Goes to Washington Parent group for their unmatched hard work in fundraising for a Washington D.C. trip that unfortunately never materialized. Yet, this group was creative and inventive in giving back to the kids in various ways while also giving back to the Rockaway Borough community.
And finally, thank you to all of our families and any other groups I may be unintentionally missing, for your on-going support and patience with us - especially in the last 4 months. We are all a team - home and school. It is this team connection that helps our students reach their fullest potential. Thank you.
Be well, be healthy and thank you for your partnership,
David Waxman
Principal
