Tag: education foundation

First Annual SRFEE Day of Giving

201 – Day of Giving Results

We have raised over $1,600!

A HUGE Thank You to all who have donated to our First Annual Day of Giving Fundraising drive! We greatly appreciate your support!

The school that raised the most $ was presented with their award at the May 27, 2021 Board of Education Meeting.

There is never a bad time to help SRFEE continue to provide Scholarships & Mini-Grants by becoming a Pillar of Support. Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=WjnNcXnN5_dlA6Xzu1CZl68Xj1SUwtnrbaUBEp7JugCNc3UvyLUYpYDqVqHZ1zqSN_1OcUTBQarxrZ20

Thanks to the following Pillars of Support

Monica Santos
Lisa Williams-Byrne
Sylvia Zircher
Lauren Botnick
Danielle Earley Oswald
Shenetta Smith
Shortrese Martin
Jurgita Galavackiene
Elizabeth Da Silva Lell
Pam Borroum
Erin Headley Pinto
Nicole Sadowski
John Budzin
Eniola Adebayo
Traci Mosser Alai
Judith Happe
Jeanette Lucas
Leslie Borrero

Kate Martori
Joanne Quigley-olival
Christine Kilduff
David Roshetar
Lynann Vukusich
Cheryll Recto Santiago
Raymond Baszak
Jennifer Pizzuto
Kevin J. Nielsen
Mayor John Krenzel
Megan Squindo Kurtz
Layne Smith
Jared Smith
Khayla Smith
Veatrice Turner
Peter Guindi
Debra Napolitano
Laura Rente
Sharmonique Shade

Thank You Pillar of Support
2021 SRFEE Day of Giving Elementary School Certificate of Appreciation

Welcome to the SRFEE
Virtual Walk Down Memory Lane

As we gear up and build excitement for our First Annual Day of Giving, April 30, 2021 (SRFEEShines) ….we will be sharing how SRFEE has impacted our students and teachers through our scholarship & grant programs since our inception 7 years ago.  

Support us in

Monday 4/26/2021 – SRFEE is a non-profit organization run by volunteer members.  We would appreciate more members to join our group  efforts for our mission.  Donations of skills/time and/or money is greatly appreciated. 

Learn More

Raising

Tuesday 4/27/2021 – our fundraising goal is to raise (a minimum) of $5.00 per student in our School District. 

Click here to learn about past fundraisers.

Become a Pillar of Support

Funds for

Wednesday 4/28/2021– the future so SRFEE can continue to provide Scholarships & Mini-Grants.

Click here to view past scholarship & grant recipients.

Become a Pillar of Support

Educational

Thursday 4/29/2021 – Scholarship & Grant recipient highlights. 

Click here to view past mini-grant recipients and to learn how SRFEE has benefited their/our students.

Become a Pillar of Support

Excellence

Friday 4/30/2021 – The School that raises the most money will be presented with an award to display in their school for a job well done!  

SRFEE strives to be the Pillars of Support for the South River School District – we can not achieve our goals without YOUR help.

Become a Pillar of Support

Second Annual Day of Giving – 2022

We have raised over $1,045!

A HUGE Thank You to all who have donated to our Second Annual Day of Giving Fundraising drive. We truly appreciate your support!

There is never a bad time to help SRFEE continue to provide Scholarships & Mini-Grants by becoming a Pillar of Support.

Please Donate Here:

1,045 2nd annual day of giving donations

Current Pillars of Support to Thank:

Donations received between on 4/30/2022
Shenetta Turner-Smith
Jeanette Lucas
Concepcion Recto
Traci Leigh Mosser

Donations received between 9pm-11:59pm on 4/29/2022
Shortrese Martin
Christine Goodwin
Pamela Borroum

Donations received between 5pm-9pm on 4/29/2022
Aleda Sadowski
Joanne Sheff
Kevin Nielsen

Donations received between 12n-5pm on 4/29/2022
Elizabeth Lell
Mark Silva

Donations received between 9am-12n on 4/29/2022
David Roshetar
Meredith Larson
Jacqueline Singer
Evelyn Larson

Donations received before 9am on 4/29/2022
Danielle Oswald
Cheryll Santiago
Nicole Sadowski
Erin Pinto
Sylvia Zircher

SRFEE 2nd Annual Day of Giving
Friday, April 29, 2022 – extended through Sunday, May 1, 2022

Excellence

Excellence (Friday 4/30/2021) – The School that raises the most money will be presented with an award to display in their school for a job well done! 

Thank you for taking part in our Virtual Walk Down Memory Lane.

SRFEE strives to be the Pillars of Support for the South River School District and we can not achieve our goals without YOUR help.

SRFEE pillars of support
Support SRFEE
srfee paypal donation

Educational

Educational (Thursday 4/29/2021) – Scholarship & Grant recipient highlights. 

April 16, 2021 – Virtual Weather Assembly

2021How Far Away is the Storm
2021 WindVane Anemometer

Shout Out from John Marshall

2021 SRES EnLightening Assembly

2019 Grant Recipients

2019 Rhythm Works Integrative Dance
2019 Rhythm Works Integrative Dance

Learn More Here

Preschool Self-Contained
Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Program

Beginning in April 2019 – July 2019, Ms. Robin from Kaye-Lynn Dance Studio in East Brunswick visited our Special Education Preschool Students 4 times  to provide dance and gross motor movement instruction to our students.  Ms. Robin is certified in the Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Program, which certifies dance educators to provide dance instruction to students with Special Needs. 

This was a wonderful opportunity to not only expose our students to dance and movement classes, but also provide them with an opportunity to enjoy new leisure skills while building appropriate social skills.

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to enhance our Preschool Special Education Program through your generous support.

Kore Kids Wobble Chair

Kore Kids Wobble Chair
Kore Kids Wobble Chair
Kore Kids Wobble Chair 2019
Kore Kids Wobble Chair

Rock Garden

SRFEE rock garden
SRFEE Rock Garden

2017-2018 Mini Grant Recipients

Escape Room Kit

During the 2017-18 school year, I applied for an SRFEE mini-grant in the hopes of getting an escape room kit that would enable me to create dynamic lessons for students to practice a multitude of skills in a variety of content areas.  The kit included the materials necessary (assorted locking mechanisms, decoders, etc.) as well as access to an online platform that offered the lessons and hints for the escape room.  The lessons were, indeed, dynamic, and were very much enjoyed by all who participated.  I have attached a short video of my former students “escaping” at the end of a lesson.  
I would like to thank SRFEE for their continued efforts to foster excellence in our community and schools.

Patricia Crowdell, ELA Teacher, South River Middle School

2016 Mini Grant Recipients

While students and staff presently have access to laptops, it wasn’t that way in 2016.  However, at that time I had the opportunity to apply for a mini-grant to purchase a laptop to utilize in my classroom. After being awarded the grant, having the laptop in the classroom was extremely beneficial.  My students were able to learn basic computer skills.  They were able to search for jobs and explore different types of job applications. Having this laptop early on was a great asset to have in the classroom and I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the mini-grant from SRFEE.

Jenai Damatta, High School Life Skills Class

I along with Cassie Juba and Christine Kilduff received a mini grant to take our special education students on a field trip.  Our students are in a self contained classroom setting and benefit from hands-on experiences.  We decided to take them to the Turtle Back Zoo.  The students were able to experience the zoo, for many the first time to see and touch the animals.  Some of the students are now in high school and still talk about the experience.  Thank you SRFEE for making this experience possible for us.  You are very much appreciated.

Diane Rondesko, South River Special Education Teacher
srfee paypal donation

Raising

Raising (Tuesday 4/27/2021) – our fundraising goal is to raise (a minimum) of $5.00 per student in our School District.  

Support SRFEE

Past Fundraisers

  • 2015 National Night Out
  • 2016 Dallas Cowboy – Drew Pearson Sports Memorabilia
  • 2016 Washington Redskin – Joe Theismann Sports Memorabilia
  • Apple of my Eye
  • Chili’s Dine to Donate
  • 5 Below Fundraiser
  • 2020 Honorees
    2020 Honorees Audrey Taylor | Kevin J. Nielsen | Nancy Roque-Soares
  • sr rams all stars
    2017 Harlem Wizards
  • 2018 harlem wizards teams
    2018 Harlem Wizards
  • Fourth Anniversary Dinner Dance
  • Fourth Anniversary Dinner Dance Tickts
  • Fifth Anniversary Dinner Dance
  • Fifth Anniversary Dinner Dance Tickets

2018 – Past Fun with the Harlem Wizards

Nancy Roque-Soares

Nancy Roque-Soares

Nancy Roque-Soares is a Teacher for South River Middle School.  She has been an Educator since 1999 teaching the subject of Spanish.  She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish. Mrs. Roque-Soares has been a lifetime resident of South River, born to Portuguese parents, with her first language being Portuguese.  She always saw the difficulties others had when faced with language barriers. She identified with those who struggled and this was why she decided to become a teacher.  

As a daughter, sister, wife and mother, Nancy has always had a passion to help others. Beginning with her dedication to her students as a full-time teacher, Mrs. Roque-Soares extends her unending support to her students’ parents as well.  Her outreach to her students’ families displays her commitment to the community, as she also leads the Women’s Ministry at the CDA Church in South River. In addition, her volunteer efforts include being a translator for the church’s services.  

Amongst all of her endeavors, Nancy is a devoted mother to her 15-year-old son, Eric.  While she enjoys all of her many other roles, being a Soccer Mom is one that she enjoys the most!  As a teacher, a volunteer and a strong advocate for her community, Mrs. Roques-Soares dedicates her life to helping others. All throughout, she is there for her family, as she lovingly cares for her parents, in the same ways they love and support her.

Within family, church, and community, Nancy Roque-Soares is an Educator of Excellence.  She is a teacher that knows that education is not limited to the classroom and she teaches from the heart.  When it comes to Mrs. Roque-Soares, there are no language barriers with her smile.  

To quote Flora Lewis, “Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things but learning another way to think about things”.  For those who have ever experienced the challenge to understand and not be understood, Nancy Roque-Soares will be there for you, while inspiring the bravery to overcome.

Audrey Taylor

Audrey Taylor

Audrey Taylor began her illustrious career right here in her beloved hometown of South River as a student-athlete and phenomenal Basketball player. Her name is etched in SRHS history on a banner in the Gymnasium honoring those players with 1,000+ career points.  This distinction, her all-around talent, and her grades would later earn her a full scholarship and further accolades at Monmouth University where she would double major in Communications and Information Technology and earn her Bachelor of Arts degree. Audrey utilized her degree to become a Web Manager for multiple projects in Corporate America for the past 11 years. She is currently is a freelance web designer for ISOP.  However, the opportunity to share her time, talent and extensive Basketball experience was something she wanted to pursue. The first place she went was to her alma mater, South River High School. Unfortunately, the schedule conflicted with her employment. She would then go on to become Head Coach at Franklin High School for the past 9 seasons and the rest is literally….history.   

Coach Taylor created a standard at Franklin HS “to be tough, defend, and play with your heart, with passion.” Audrey herself is a passionate advocate of giving back to her South River community.  She has worked in conjunction with the South River Board of Education to provide backpacks and school supplies to free and reduced-lunch students. She also offers an annual no-cost basic-skills training session and organizes the well-known annual event – Ballin’ in the Park during the month of July.   

Audrey mentors aspiring youth via the Passion 4Youth, Inc. which is a 501-c3 educational and athletic program she founded and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Seeing the widening gap between the privileged and those in need, Coach Taylor provides top-notch skill development at an affordable cost to those that would otherwise have to settle for much less or no formalized training.  It is the foundation on which her T.R.U.E Skills Academy is built upon. Basketball players at the Middle and High School levels get an opportunity to learn from one of the best and are encouraged to aspire to BE the best! They also learn to give back by teaching the younger students in the program. A training session with Coach Audrey is a complete workout for your mind, body, and soul. She pours her passion for life, the game, the kids and for giving back, into each session.  Mentor, Motivate, Confidence, Communication, Encouragement, Positivity are just some of the terms you associate with her. You can throw in Tough, Hard-Work, Rules, Expectations and it’s still a good day that always ends with “Good Job” and that bright smile!

Head Coach Audrey Taylor’s Accomplishments:

Passion 4 Youth Logo
  • 2019 USA Today All-USA Coach of the Year
  • 2019 Ranked #12 Nationally (USA Today-Super 25)
  • 2017 & 2019 Ranked #1 State of NJ
  • 2019 Undefeated Season 34-0
  • 2017 & 2019 NJISAA Tournament of Champion State Champions
  • 2x Somerset County Champions (Back 2 Back) 2017 & 2019
  • 4x Group 4 State Champions 2015-2019
  • 4x Group 4 Sectional Champions 2014 -2019
  • 2017 NJ.com (Star-Ledger) Coach of the Year
  • 2017 USA Today Coach of the Year
  • 2014 & 2017 Franklin High School Coach of the Year
  • 2014 & 2017 Courier News Basketball Coach of the Year (Somerset County)
  • 2016 & 2017 Skyland Conference Coach of the Year

Kevin J. Nielsen

Sergeant Kevin J. Nielsen, Retired South River Police Department

Kevin J. Nielsen

Kevin J. Nielsen is the second of five children born to Carl and Patricia Nielsen.  Kevin is a graduate of the South River High School Class of 1980 and has resided and or worked in South River his entire life.

Kevin and his wife Sandra have been married for 12 years and together have four boys, Brandon Pacheco, Mark Pacheco and our twins, Karl and Thomas Nielsen. All who are products of the South River School District

Kevin began his work with the Borough of South River as a utility meter reader in November of 1985.  He expanded that service to the South River Police Department in August of 1989 after passing the Chiefs of Police entrance exam in the Spring/Summer of 1989.  

Officer Nielsen was a graduate of the 51st Basic Police Training Class at Middlesex County College in January 1990.  He was also a member of the Forty-Ninth Graduating class of The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership Academy. Formerly known as The West Point Command and Leadership Academy. After 13 years as an officer on the SRPD – he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on July 1, 2013, and was assigned to the Patrol Division of the South River Police Department where he remained until his retirement on June 30, 2019.  

During his tenure with the SRPD, Sergeant Nielsen was assigned many different divisions: Traffic Safety Division, Detective Bureau & Patrol Division.  

While assigned to the Traffic Safety Division, he was trained by Northwestern University Traffic Institute to investigate motor vehicle accidents.  Kevin is certified in Motor Accident Investigation I and II. He was also trained by the University of North Florida Institute of Police Technology and Management, in the field of Inspection and Investigation of Commercial Vehicle Crashes. 

While assigned to the Detective Bureau, he worked with the Middlesex County Narcotics Task Force from June of 1999 until July of 2000.  There he worked with other jurisdictions to apprehend individuals making street-level buys of narcotics throughout the county. He also worked with officers from the Federal government, state police and other Counties on the “Club Drug Scene.”

Throughout his Law Enforcement Career, he has received numerous Letter of Commendation.  

One of the many defining moments of his career while on patrol in July of 2004. He was the arresting officer of four (4) individuals who were members of the “Lakatosz Crime Family.” These members victimized an elderly resident of the borough.  Sergeant Nielsen’s love and respect for his parents and the elderly in general, fueled his resolve even more to solve this particular case.

Kevin has worked within the community by supporting the Boy Scouts of America, and the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. 

He is also a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3001.

Kevin found another way in which to serve his community. In April of 2010, he was elected to his First Term as a member of the South River Board of Education. This past November, he was re-elected to his Fourth Term and looks forward to continuing to serve his home town of South River.