From left are Kelly School music teacher Deborah Rees, U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, Kelly School Principal Joanne Pollara and astronaut Mark Kelly.
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Kelly Elementary School had some very special surprise visitors on Nov. 2 when astronaut Mark Kelly and his wife, U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, stopped by to say hello.
Students were enjoying their “NED” assembly promoting kindness to others when Principal Joanne Pollara was called into the office for an ill student. Pollara looked out the window and was shocked by what she saw.
“Much to my surprise and delight, I saw Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly and their assistants walking up our front walk!” Pollara said. “The Kellys were in town to make several scheduled appearances, but said they couldn’t be this close to us without stopping by to see us.”
Although they only had a few minutes to visit, Pollara and the Kellys interrupted the assembly to the cheers of the students and teachers. Mark Kelly spoke to the students for a few minutes before the couple headed out to their next appointment.
Kelly Elementary School, formerly Pleasantdale Elementary School, was renamed for astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly in April 2016. The astronauts grew up in West Orange and both attended Pleasantdale. A special bond has grown between the Kellys and the school, with the astronauts making several appearances to spend time with students and staff, including a few broadcasts from the space shuttle while Scott Kelly spent a year in space.
“Mark and Gabby left us all feeling so grateful that they chose to spend a few minutes of their time with us,” Pollara said. “Time is a precious gift.”
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