St. James First Graders Win Governor's Jefferson Award

The first grade students of were awarded the Governor's Jefferson Award for Youth Service at a ceremony held on May 12 at the Newark Museum.

Along with their teacher Stacy West and class aide Terri Herlihy, the first graders initiated a collaborative service project for Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. Partnering with the Home School Association, St. James students in grades 2 through 8, the school's Girl and Cub Scout Troops, and classes at Hillside Avenue School in Cranford, the students made fleece blankets for patients aged 4 through 17 residing at the hospital. The blankets were Christmas gifts to the patients, to brighten up their rooms and to provide warmth.

The students raised and contributed money to pay for the fleece to make the blankets and took the time during their school days to hand tie (or knot) the fleece together to make the blankets. At the end of the project, the class donated over 50 blankets to the patients at Trinitas Hospital.