Shana Baloche
1. When did you go to Allen?
For fourth and fifth grade (1989-1991)
2. Who was your principal?/ Any special memories of this principal?
Mr. Learn and Mr. Somers. I remember Mr. Learn dressing up as Mickey Mouse and greeting the buses one morning.
3. Who was your favorite teacher?/ Who was the teacher that inspired you the most? Any special memories of this teacher?
Mrs. Stevens. She was my fourth grade teacher, and the teacher I had the year I moved there. I came in during the fall and didn't know anyone. She made me feel welcome and special. She used to call me "Indy" because I would rush through my work. I liked having a special nickname.
4. What time did you go to school?/ What time did you leave school?
I have no idea.
5. Did you eat lunch in school?/ Did you get recess? Any special memories?
Yes, we ate lunch in school and I think we got recess. No special memories, except that I ate too many ice cream sandwiches.
6. Did you get homework? Did you get a lot of homework.
Yes. The most challenging homework I got was from I.M.P.A.C.T. with Mr. Gair (which I loved).
7. Did you have a different teacher for every subject? Any special memories?
In fourth grade I had Mrs. Stevens for most things and Mrs. Stone for math. I remember playing "Around the World" and loved it! In fifth grade, I had Mrs. Cokus for most subjects and Mr. Reed for math. Mrs. Cokus did a play with our class called, "Rowdy Kate." I got to be the bar maid and that was the experience that got me to love acting! I continued doing drama through college.
8. Did you have gym, music, art, or anything else? Any special memories?
I had Mr. K for gym and Mrs. White for music. I loved learning how to play the recorder. And Mr. K had us collect soda can tabs in gym...our goal was to get one million... he did one year after I was gone.
9. Were there any sport teams for the school?
I wasn't the sporty type, so even if there were, I don't remember.
10. Did you enjoy your years at Allen? Any special memories?
Yes, I still look back on those times fondly. Allen was my introduction to Medford. I was a nervous little kid and felt welcome here at Allen. Once I became a teacher, and came back to New Jersey after college, I was honored to have my first teaching job back at Allen, at the school of my childhood.
11. What was your favorite memory?
My favorite memory is Mrs. Cokas reading, "A Wrinkle in Time" to us. She used to read a little each day and used voices for each characters. I'm a teacher now, here in Medford, and I'm reading a book to my class as well, hoping it will inspire them to read, like Mrs. Cokas did for me.