WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—The Woodcliff Middle School Community prides itself as one dedicated to service, giving, and meeting the needs of those in need. Even with the challenges of COVID-19, these values remain at the heart of the school’s students and staff.
During the week of Oct. 13–16, Woodcliff Middle School joined many around that nation in celebrating Week of Respect. Students and staff participated in spirit activities all geared towards recognizing the importance of respect, understanding, and celebration of differences.
They also raised approximately $600 for the organization Feeding America, which helps to provide meals for those in need.
According to Principal Michael Andriulli, this has never been more necessary, given the cruel reach of the pandemic.
Andriulli said he provided a great incentive for the fundraiser: He agreed to do a karaoke performance of Taylor Swift’s “Mean” for the whole school to enjoy if more than $500 was raised.
“Singing isn’t one of my strengths, but I wanted to find a way to motivate the students and put smiles on everyone’s faces,” he told Pascack Press on Oct. 20.
He said students surpassed the goal and earned the performance, which he delivered as promised.
This fundraiser comes weeks after the school raised and donated more than $600 to the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation. The school partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill in Montvale for the event, which was planned in the spring in recognition of Rare Disease Day, then postponed.
Andriulli said that over the past five years, Woodcliff Middle School’s fundraising and awareness campaign for Rare Disease Day have grown. They have sold T-shirts to staff, increased the amount of jeans days, and included public service announcement videos teaching students about rare diseases.
Overall, he said, school has raised and donated more than $4,000 to the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation.
Thanksgiving in mind
In November, Woodcliff Middle School students, their families, and community will join together as they have done the past nine years in one of their most valuable and charitable events. Project N.E.S.T. (No Empty Stomachs Today) provides hundreds of Thanksgiving meals to families in the Newark area.
Andriulli said students are provided the opportunity to be a part of the entire giving process.
“The school runs a food drive and some students collect items at the local grocery stores. Student Council members then inventory, organize, and stage the collected items to enable each student in the middle school to fill a bag to be transported to Newark,” he said.
He explained, “Students spend a morning distributing the meals directly to families through The Apostle House. This valuable school experience is unparalleled as students walk away with a sense of pride and thankfulness—exactly what the Thanksgiving holiday is about.”
Although this year’s Project N.E.S.T. might look slightly different, the goal remains the same: to supply The Apostle House with more than 300 Thanksgiving dinners.
Andriulli said, “The Woodcliff Middle School community is committed to move forward, and even build upon, its efforts of service during this challenging year.”
He said, “In the midst of the fear, stress, and unknown that many are feeling, we want to continue to be a positive influence on those around us.”
Andriulli said that “Although the school’s main focus is keeping students and staff safe, we can’t lose sight of what really matters. There is a lot out of our control right now, but we are always in control of how we treat people and the good that we do for others.”