Sussex school safety team hands out cocoa

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The doors to the Sussex Middle School’s auditorium opened to the rich sweet aromatic smells of cocoa wafting in the air on Dec. 19.

About 25 student members of the school’s Safety/Climate Team were at the ready with cups filled with hot chocolate to serve to arriving students, bus drivers and staff. As the demand grew with more students arriving, concerns arose that there would not be enough. Mrs. Longo, an English teacher at the school, assured everyone by telling them that “we made enough to serve 400 people.”

By the time school was ready to begin, there was only a few servings remaining. It was the second time the event was hosted by the school’s Safety/Climate Team.

“Being that it was such a big hit last year, the student members of the team were enthusiastic about doing it again….they really pushed for it” said Mary Vroegindewey, a guidance counselor.

The school Safety/Climate consist of student volunteers and faculty who are active in promoting a positive school culture and advancing community-minded interactions among students.