By Sean Patrick Murphy
The South Jersey Sun
The E. T. Hamilton Elementary School in Voorhees is doing its part to "go green."
How?
By putting up an LED sign out front.
The sign, which uses three different colors, will be able to convey to parents information that was usually sent home with the students on paper.
Darlene Baldasarre, secretary of the Hamilton Parent Faculty Association (HPFA), said the sign was donated by the HPFA. The volunteer said they did fundraising for the sign.
"We just think that it will really help parents with scheduling and not having a ton of paperwork coming home because the sign can hold so many messages we think that the messages will get out there a little bit better," Baldasarre said, noting she likes the visibility at the location in front of the school. "I think it's going to do really well."
The sign was bought from Stewart Signs in Florida, was installed by Delcrest Sign Company in Voorhees, and Fred R Morgan & Sons hooked up the electricity.
Voorhees School Facilities Director Clark Mathes secured permits for the sign and also was able contact local businesses to help.
"Clark Mathes really, really did a lot of work for this," Baldasarre said.
The HPFA, which is made up of five volunteers, held fundraisers at McDonald's and Rita's Water Ice, and also provided a carnival.
The kind of information the sign will let parents know about is when school is out, when picture day is, any HPFA meetings, and back to school night (which is at different times for different grades).
"I think it's going to really, really help the parents," Baldasarre said, noting it took about eight months to get the sign ready. She said the township was helpful by approving permits.
The sign has gotten a "huge" response, Baldasarre said.
"So many parents are walking by, stopping, looking at it," she said. "I hear them speak among themselves, people who know me personally and know that I was involved are coming up to me congratulating me.
"It was a group effort," Baldasarre added.
"Principal [Kristine] diCoio is so very very happy and full of compliments," Baldasarre said. "She thinks that this is going to be a wonderful addition to the school for many years to come."
Stewart is the largest school sign company in America, with a presence in all 50 states.
Since 1968, it has provided signage to educational institutions across the country. It has 35,000 customers.
The ribbon cutting for the sign is on Sept. 22 at 9:30 a.m. Superintendent of Schools Raymond Brosel, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Frank DeBerardinis, Mayor Michael Mignogna, Principal diCoio, and members of the HPFA will be in attendance.
Darlene Baldasarre, HFPA Secretary
E. T. Hamilton Elementary School
Voorhees, NJ