Local donation tops donor list

By Don Carswell
SPARTA — The Sparta School District ambassadors were the largest contributors to Autism New Jersey, with a collective total of $5,600 raised.

Sparta Township schools have been among the top five contributors to the organization for the last six years.

Autism New Jersey is the largest network of parents and professionals dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism and their families in the state. Autism is a lifelong disability that manifests itself in poor communication skills and difficulties with social interactions.

An estimated one in 49 residents in New Jersey have the condition to some degree, according to Kristi Diklich, a special education teacher at Alpine Elementary School and one of the event coordinators. The autism spectrum includes the high-functioning Asperger Syndrome, in which the subject may be highly intelligent.

Funds donated to Autism New Jersey go toward services such as early intervention, camps for kids and programs for educators. Early intervention is important because earlier services give children a better opportunity to gain life skills.

In addition to Diklich, the Sparta events and activities were coordinated by Kerianne Loyer and Kristen Bahnatka. Students collected pledges from family and friends throughout April, which is Autism Awareness Month.

Alpine School hosted a two-hour Zumba-a-thon with instructor and music teacher David Ackerman, and a hip-hop dance class for kids with instructors Ami and Yvonne Setlock on April 25, followed the next day by the school’s seventh annual Autism Awareness Walk-a-thon.

Sparta High School student Andrew Altieri volunteered his time to serve as DJ, to play music for the walkers.

Teachers had a surprise thank-you in store for the students at the end of the day as they morphed into a flash mob, and all present joined in.

“The teachers’ surprise dance was cool,” commented Nikolas, one of the students. “I liked walking to the music,” added Kenneth. A third student, Walter, said, “I liked walking around with my friends.”

Mohawk Avenue School participated by hosting its first annual Dance-a-thon. Teachers also helped to raise money by selling Autism Awareness reusable shopping bags.

Both Alpine and Mohawk Avenue schools, as well as Helen Morgan School and Sparta High School, had staff dress-down days and breakfasts.

Diklich extended “a huge thanks to all the schools, staff and Sparta community for making this possible.”

One of Diklich’s students, Allie, summarized the spirit of the fundraiser: “It feels good to help friends,” she said.