ward for me trying to fit in socially, so I never thought that I would ever want to return to middle school to teach. But within the first month, I loved it.” Labriola said that teaching art has enabled him to form a special bond and relationship with many of his students and their families. “I try to make my class a comfortable and relaxed place,” he said. “Kids today are so caught up in technology, but they also need to learn to use their brains and their eyes to create something with their hands that they can be proud of. Many of them are unaware of their talents.” In addition to teaching seventh and eighth grade art cycle classes, which meet for one marking period, Jeff teaches an enrichment art homeroom. The special class for selected students with an interest and talent in art begins at 7:45 am every day and runs through the regular homeroom period. “It’s a very enjoyable part of my day,” he said. “It’s very exciting for me to work with kids who are so passionate about art. We get to do more in depth projects and I have them for the whole year instead of just one marking period.” In 2004, Labriola was instrumental in bringing a chapter of the National Junior Art Honor Society to Christopher Columbus to recognize qualifying students
for their artistic talents, good character and community service contributions. As faculty advisor to the Student Council for the past seven years, Labriola works with student leaders on fundraising for school activities and community service projects, including a Teddy bear collection for the holidays. Over the years, the students at Christopher Columbus have collected donations of more than 2,000 Teddy bears that were distributed to pediatric patients in local hospitals and, this past holiday season, to children enrolled at the Cerebral Palsy Center on Main Ave. Labriola always sets up a grand display of the donated Teddy bears in the main office at the school to help publicize the project. Arguably Labriola’s most masterful and heartfelt work happens every June, when he coordinates with parent volunteers to turn the lower gymnasium into a magical dancehall for the eighth grade Farewell Dance. The theme is different each year and is kept secret until the eighth graders come down the stairs on the night of the dance. “Hollywood,” “Around the World” and “New York, New York” are just some of the themes Jeff has dreamed up for the elaborate decorations, which take many volunteer hours of his time to design and put together with the parents. The latter theme included a huge replica of the Statue of Liberty.
Since 1960
NJ License 13VH00726700
March 2010 • Clifton Merchant
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