Project links students with history, namesake

BY BRIAN DONAHUE
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Jim Thomas, of the Churchill Centre in Washington, D.C., discusses the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during his organization's presentation of a portrait at Churchill Junior High School Tuesday. EAST BRUNSWICK - When Churchill Junior High School was dedicated in January 1964, four months after it opened, Winston Churchill was invited, but could not attend.

The British consul to New York came in his place. But Churchill did send a telegram with a simple message: "I send to Churchill School and all who teach in it my warm wishes for a happy, peaceful and prosperous future."

For Scott Kominkiewicz, now an English teacher at Churchill, the aging statesman knew what he was doing when he penned those 21 words.

"The message is simple and timeless," Kominkiewicz said. "Students today can feel like the message is directed to them, and it will be the same decades from now as well."

Such knowledge, along with artifacts, memorabilia and a rekindled sense of identity, are the focus of a project Kominkiewicz is working on in his studies to earn a master's degree in education leadership from the University of Cincinnati. He was required to conduct a field project by fulfilling a need at his school. In working with Principal Mark Sutor, he decided to research the school's history and to help give students a sense of its origins and culture.

"Since students in our school are only here for two years, it's hard for many of them to feel a part of the institution that is Churchill Junior High School. It's important for students to know that they are a part of something bigger and that many fine young people have found success before them as students and graduates of the school," he said.

Kominkiewicz also saw the original school building joined with the former Smith Elementary School in a 2003 construction project.

"After the renovation was complete, we had a super facility, but there was little in the school linking it to Churchill Junior High School's rich past," he said.

As Kominkiewicz set out to write the school's history, one of many elements of the multi-faceted project, he also sought to procure a portrait of Winston Churchill. For that, he turned to the Churchill Centre in Washington, D.C., which donated an oil-on-canvas reproduction of Churchill in 1941 by artist Martin Driscoll. It is the 71st reproduction of 100 made.

"I can't say enough great things about the people in the Churchill Centre," Kominkiewicz said, noting how quickly they responded with the donation. "I was floored."

Representatives of the Churchill Centre were at the school Tuesday for the official presentation of the portrait, a ceremony attended by school officials and even Alec Borman, who was school board president in 1963.

Meanwhile, Kominkiewicz's efforts continue. Further elements of the project include producing a permanent museum-like display, celebrating Winston Churchill's birthday on Nov. 30, and the exhibition of other Churchill images and memorabilia throughout the school year. Of course, there is also the history project.

"Writing the school's history was a little trickier than I thought, but fun. The difficult part is pulling together bits and pieces of information from numerous sources. It was fun to pore over all the old newspaper clippings and yearbooks and see all the happy kids who passed through Churchill."

A couple of interesting tidbits Kominkiewicz has found: The school was originally intended to be built in another part of town, on Jensen Street, where houses now stand next to Memorial School. Also, Churchill originally served as an intermediate school and later as one of two junior highs in East Brunswick. The other junior high was Hammarskjold, which is now the sole middle school.

"It's also interesting to look at some of the clubs and activities that no longer exist," he said. "I got a kick out of seeing a close-up picture of three boys who comprised the Gun Safety Club showing off their shotguns in a classroom. It tells you a lot about how times have changed."

The research and events have piqued the interest of many, including Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro.

"Everyone involved learned something that they didn't know before - some history of Churchill Junior High School and the East Brunswick community and the life of a great man," Magistro said. "Important and meaningful local, national and world connections were made. We are very grateful to the Churchill Centre for their donation of the portrait and appreciative of Mr. Kominkiewicz's efforts."

Kominkiewicz, 44, an East Brunswick resident with a wife and four children, in turn said he's thankful for the assistance he's received from administrators and other staff members.

He hopes students can now better identify with the school's namesake.

"Having this portrait gives students a chance to make the connection to their school's namesake. That's important. When they see Winston Churchill's picture in a book, magazine or on TV, I want kids and adults who went to school here to say, 'Hey, I went to a school named after him.' "