40 years of learning celebrated

Students, teachers, administrators and alumni gathered at the Howard C. Johnson School, Larsen Road, in Jackson recently to celebrate the school's 40th anniversary.

Howard C. Johnson School pupils perform for guests during a 40th anniversary celebration of the building that was known as the Larsen Road School when it opened in 1969 in Jackson. Principal Al Giambrone welcomed the guests to the event and said, "I'm just very excited to celebrate 40 years of excellence here at the Howard C. Johnson School."

Mayor Mike Reina offered his congratulations and noted that the building was constructed during the 1968-69 school year and opened in May 1969.

Looking back at those early years, Reina said students walked to school, due to limited busing, and walked home for lunch. He said the school has always had a hometown feeling.

He said the children try to live up to the school's motto. "Always try your best."

Fifth-grade pupils Shannon Asta and Magnus McCaleb read a biography of Howard C. Johnson, for whom the school was named. They said Johnson lived from 1882 to 1967 and traveled 20 miles (round trip) every day by walking or riding his bicycle to school on Bennetts Mills Road.

During a 40th anniversary celebration of the Howard C. Johnson School in Jackson, teacher Fran Garbos makes the point that children have to be nurtured just like a flower garden. In 1901 he became the first Jackson resident to graduate from high school, and in 1902 Johnson started teaching in the Jackson public schools. He furthered his education at the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and Rutgers University.

He married Madonna Williams in 1902 and together they had seven children. Johnson continued teaching until 1937, when he retired.

After his retirement from teaching, Johnson became a postal carrier in Lakewood, a researcher on the history of Jackson, the creator of a township logo stamp that has become Jackson's official seal, and he served as the township's welfare director. Johnson also served as a district clerk and worked on the U.S. Census in 1940.

Some of Johnson's last hours were shared with children, explaining the history of Jackson, according to the biography.

Ed Elms Ed Elms, the first principal of the Howard C. Johnson School, was on hand at the festivities.

"It's really terrific to be back. Johnson School always had a neighborhood atmosphere to it," said Elms, who was the principal of the school for six years and worked in the Jackson school district for 38 years. He served as the superintendent of schools from 1995 to 2000.

"This has always been my favorite school," Elms said. "That's because I was always welcomed when I came back here. It's a great place to come to visit all the time."

Elms said one thing that has changed in Jackson over the years is the tremendous growth in population. He also noted that when the school was built, there were no cell phones, video games or personal computers. Computers were the size of a room, and few people were able to use them.

He said that when the Johnson School was built, the surrounding area was all woods. Many residents were chicken farmers who raised chickens to sell the eggs. Elms noted that the closest town, Lakewood, was five miles away.

Elms said that in 1959 there were two elementary schools in Jackson. The Switlik School had 2,000 students and the Rosenauer School had 1,000 students. The schools were on split session, with a morning session from 8 a.m. to noon and an afternoon session from noon to 4 p.m.

He said that schedule did not provide a complete school day. Jackson residents decided more schools were needed and voted to build two schools, and the Johnson School (which was originally called the Larsen Road School) was one of them.

The school was supposed to open in February 1969, but a fire damaged some of the classrooms and the opening was delayed until May.

"Whenever it was finished, we were going to bring the children to the school," Elms said.

The final six weeks of that school year were an adventure for everyone who had to move into the new building, but Elms said it was an enjoyable time.

"When the Johnson School opened, there were 16 classrooms and a library, nothing else," Elms said.

An all-purpose room and offices were completed in 1971, which was the same year the school was renamed the Howard C. Johnson School.

Elms said the teachers who taught in the school 40 years ago worked hard to help every student succeed. He said the teachers in the building today are carrying on the tradition of providing the best education possible.

"Listen to your teachers, particularly when they are talking about the importance of reading," Elms told the children. "You really need to practice reading as much as you can, reading books, on the computer and reading magazines. Reading is the key to everybody's success, whether it's in school or later on when you go to work. Do that as much as you can."

During the program, retired Principal Barry Rosenzweig led the students in song with "We Are a Rainbow," "With a J" and "Happy Birthday HCJ."

Rosenzweig also introduced two teachers who were part of the faculty in 1971, Jim Santiago and Barry Novack, while Giambrone introduced current senior faculty members Fran Garbos and Lynn Coffey.

Garbos described how seeds grow into plants, just like children grow into adults and come to the Johnson School to be nurtured.

"We want you to grow where you grow best," she told the children.

Garbos thanked Jeanne Barbour, who was the PTA president for years, and then informed students there will be a time capsule placed on the school grounds to be opened years from now when they are in high school or college.

Coffey related her memories at Johnson School not as a student, but as a teacher 26 years ago.

Coffey introduced some of the early students at the school, including those who eventually became teachers, and other staff members at Johnson School: Debby Mooney, Nicole McHale, Lori Glushko, Jen Taibbi and Varin Gartley.

She suggested that perhaps some current pupils will one day return as teachers at the school.

Garbos and Coffey presented Giambrone with a plaque to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the school.

Giambrone thanked Jackson Memorial High School art teacher Bobbie Allaire and her daughter, Jamie Allaire, for the paintings displayed in the school, as well as Deputy Superintendent Lu Anne Meinders and also the National Art Honor Society.