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  Pleasantdale Elementary (NJ) renamed for Kellys

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Author Topic:   Pleasantdale Elementary (NJ) renamed for Kellys
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 03-16-2016 08:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Pleasantdale Elementary School, West Orange, NJ, will be renamed in honor of Mark and Scott Kelly, who attended the school:
"It is not often that a community is able to recognize and honor native sons who both fit the definitions of 'Hero and Pioneer' in perpetuity so that generations to come will know where such accomplished individuals had their beginnings," said Board of Education president Laura Lab, in a release.

Although the school will honor the brothers, a name has yet to be chosen. That will fall to Pleasantdale teachers and students, with principal Joanne Pollara proposing five names to the West Orange school board.

The board will pick the name and a ceremony held May 19 at Pleasantdale Elementary for the renaming.

"The Kelly brothers' achievements remind our children of the importance of passion, hard work, and dedication. My hope is that many students are inspired by Mark and Scott's accomplishments," said West Orange superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky in a release.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-17-2016 08:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This renaming has a special significance to me personally, which I described today to Space.com:
"Being both a journalist who closely covered Mark's and Scott's spaceflights and a fellow graduate of the West Orange school system, I think it is great that our elementary school is being re-named for them," said Robert Pearlman, editor of collectSPACE.com, a space-history news website, and a Space.com contributing writer. "I was in kindergarten at Pleasantdale when Mark and Scott graduated from the high school across the street, so I literally grew up following in their footsteps. Now that they are both veteran NASA astronauts, I can only imagine the inspiration they will provide as students attend the school bearing their names."

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-19-2016 12:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE
Kelly Elementary: Astronaut twins honored with grade school renaming

A New Jersey grade school launched its new name Thursday (May 19) with the help of its honored namesakes — NASA's first identical twin astronauts.

Mark and Scott Kelly, who 44 years ago transferred into the second grade at Pleasantdale Elementary, returned to West Orange, New Jersey for the renaming of their alma mater. Kelly Elementary School was dedicated to the two hometown heroes during an outdoor ceremony held on the front lawn the school with city and school leaders, students and teachers.

"After all your worldly travels, and your out of world travels, it is my pleasure, on behalf on this community, to officially welcome you home," said Mayor Robert Parisi. "Thank you both for never forgetting where you came from."

Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 05-20-2016 10:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Mayor's medal ceremony afterward at Town Hall was a fun event. Started to rain when I got onto I-280 but it stopped by the time I got to town hall.

It was great seeing Gabby and Mark as well as Scott. Scott was walking with a limp; he's still recovering from his year-long spaceflight, he said.

Afterward they posed for photos and briefly talked with people. I asked Mark to come back to Ocean County (Scott worked at a pizza place in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island). Mark said he didn't work there, but he did work at the amusement park.

Mark also gave a shout out to my daughter, who was wearing a "pumpkin suit."

It was good also seeing Tony from cS there.

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