By By Kristy DeFazio and Paul Gizzo
Thirty years ago, Pond Road Middle School opened its doors, beginning a journey that continues today.
Since 1996, Pond Road has been a cornerstone of our community, where friendships are formed, confidence is built and talents are discovered.
As we celebrate its 30th anniversary, we want to recognize the students, educators, administrators, support staff and families who have shaped its history.
When Pond Road opened, our community was still known as Washington Township, Robbinsville High School had yet to open, and much of the residential growth we see today was still ahead. As Robbinsville grew, so did Pond Road.
By the late 2000s, enrollment had surpassed 1,000 students. In 2012, residents approved a school construction referendum that included improvements to Pond Road, helping the district address changing needs.
But buildings and enrollment figures tell only part of the story. Pond Road’s greatest accomplishments are reflected in the lives of its students and the educators who have inspired them.
That spirit was on full display Thursday, October 8, when our school community joined together for a wonderful 30th anniversary celebration.
Throughout the school day, students created birthday cards, decorated balloons with messages and shared birthday wishes on cupcake cutouts. Our select choir sang “Happy Birthday” during the daily PondTV broadcast, while students and staff proudly wore their Pond Road gear.
The evening celebration was especially memorable.
We welcomed back approximately 20 staff members who were part of Pond Road when its doors first opened in 1996. Each received a red-carpet introduction, complete with an original yearbook photograph displayed on a screen. We also recognized four remarkable staff members who began working at Pond Road in 1996 and are still serving our students today.
Our select choir and jazz band entertained guests with music from the 1990s, while a “Did You Know?” presentation revealed some fascinating school history.
For example, did you know Pond Road has a time capsule from 1996 still hidden in its walls? Or that our school colors were almost turquoise and pink?
One particularly entertaining memory involved Pond Road Principal Paul Gizzo, one of the authors of this column, who once spent the night on the school’s roof after students successfully completed a reading challenge!
A hallway memory board invited students, staff and community members to share what they were doing in 1996. And our students enthusiastically reminded everyone that they hadn’t even been born yet.
Our PondTV student crew also interviewed returning staff members, capturing their memories, experiences and favorite moments from Pond Road’s earliest years.
It was a wonderful reminder that a school’s legacy isn’t measured simply in years, but in the people who have made those years meaningful.
Over three decades, Pond Road has adapted to new technologies, academic standards and the growing importance of students’ social and emotional well-being. Yet its purpose remains unchanged: preparing young people for success in high school and beyond.
We are proud of what Pond Road represents and grateful to everyone who has contributed to its success.
To our current students, you are writing the next chapter of this school’s history. And to our teachers, staff, families and alumni, thank you for 30 years of dedication, partnership and pride.
Kristy DeFazio is the acting superintendent of the Robbinsville Public School District. Paul Gizzo is the principal of Pond Road Middle School.
