Cedar Mountain hosts open house

VERNON — During its “fall Open House,” Saturday, Sept. 16, Cedar Mountain Primary School and community celebrated the school's 30th anniversary. The Vernon Township Education Association and New Jersey Education Association PRIDE grant also provided food and activities.
As part of the celebration, current and former Cedar Mountain principals: Rosemary Gebhardt, Dennis Mudrick, Fred Podorf, and Vernon School Board President David Zweier held a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the school.
Zweier said the anniversary was exciting for him, because his daughter is going to Cedar Mountain 30 years after he attended in the first Cedar Mountain fourth grade class.
The principals and Zweier emphasized how proud they are of the teachers, staff, administration, and board of education.
Mudrick said, “A lot has changed in 30 years, but one thing hasn't about Vernon, and that is — we're about children.”
Podorf, who was the first Cedar Mountain principal 30 years ago, said, “The Vernon school system is the Rolls Royce school system.” Cedar Mountain, he continued, is a special place because he had the honor and privilege of opening it and working with a wonderful staff. He, too, emphasized, “As with all the Vernon schools, children and learning come first.”
During the open house, parents and children toured the building, explored educational websites, received literacy information, and attended a math lesson to help understand Math in Focus.
Also as part of the celebration, organized by PRIDE Chair Laurie Nelson, Gebhardt, and all the teachers, children enjoyed “Touch a Truck,” where they explored a Vernon Volunteer fire truck and Vernon police car.
Sirens, lights, and horns blasted in front of Cedar Mountain, with an occasional, “Hi, Daddy,” coming over the police car intercom.
Parents and children ate healthy food, including fresh apple slices — cored and sliced with a huge machine — and dips, vegetable zoodles, sautéed with garlic and fresh herbs, baked goods, and drinks.
Carol Cummins brought Key Club member volunteers from the high school to help with games, including the Lt. Governor of Key Club N.J., Abigail Dayon.
Many organizations and businesses from the community also helped celebrate the Fall Open House with booths, including: Girl Scouts, with Ambassador Kylie Brandt, Cub Scouts, Project Self-Sufficiency, Center for Prevention and Counseling and Vernon Coalition, SCA, Vernon Township Education Association, two Karate academies: Pace Karate with Hanshi Pace and Vernon Valley Karate Academy with Sensei Tom Shull.
Shull, teachers, and students also demonstrated historical Karate combat moves on the green grassy field.
Children received stickers from each activity and booth, in order to fill a souvenir card of the day.
Gebhardt said, the school had a hoedown kick-off the previous night, including chili cook-off, music, and line dancing. She was the judge for the chili contest, and the kids helped her vote with their little tally marks.
She also explained, she wants to engage families, help them meet each other, and understand every learning process. Thus, she said, she tries to get families in the school as much as possible.