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Evesham board renames kindergarten readiness program for Larry Cole, honors students and staff
Summary
The Evesham Township School District Board of Education presented a proclamation renaming the district CAPS kindergarten readiness program to honor Larry Cole and recognized students, teachers and coaches with awards and certificates.
The Evesham Township School District Board of Education on the evening recognized local volunteers, staff and students and voted to rename its kindergarten readiness program in honor of longtime contributor Lawrence (Larry) Cole.
Board President Mister Bach read a proclamation saying it was “supremely fitting that we acknowledge and honor Lawrence Cole” and announced the coordinated arts program for primary students (CAPS) will be renamed the COLL CAPS program to reflect Cole’s long-term support through the Evesham Education Foundation. The proclamation, read aloud by board leadership, described Cole as a founding member of the Evesham Education Foundation and credited his family with continuing his work on behalf of district students.
The renaming is a ceremonial board action; Bach said the proclamation would be signed by the board president and included in the agenda for formal approval at the meeting. The proclamation text described the COLL CAPS program as one that “helps incoming kindergarten students develop social readiness and academic skills,” language read into the record by board leadership.
Superintendent Doctor Smith and Board members also recognized staff and students across the district. Doctor Smith highlighted end-of-year milestones and noted the district confirmed 33 hires for the coming year, including 32 certificated hires (as stated during the meeting), and thanked personnel staff for completing the hiring work. Two new hires present at the meeting were identified as Flores (new preschool assistant principal) and Kim Pease (new guidance counselor at Jaggard Elementary School).
Individual recognitions included: - Dr. Danielle Friedenthal, named the Burlington County Principals and Supervisors Association “Visionary Leader” in the Shining Star category (nomination credited to Jaggard principal Miss Bowles). - Isabelle Hurley, grand champion of the 2025 Burlington County Soil Conservation District poster competition. - Elianni Orotia, selected among 10 students in the Philadelphia region by the Philadelphia Affiliates organization as an all‑star student; her teacher Miss Delfino was recognized for the nomination. - Carly Sapanski, winner of the LeRoy Homer Jr. Memorial Award.
The board also recognized dozens of students for math league high scores across elementary and middle schools, winners of the New Jersey South 2025 Stock Market Game (Rice Elementary School students listed by name during the ceremony), and district sports teams for championship seasons in softball and undefeated boys lacrosse at Martin Middle School. The student technology service club (STAT — Students Teaching About Technology) and its adviser Miss DeGangi were honored for a decade of student-led work supporting STEAM nights, Hour of Code events and other district outreach.
Mister Bach and other presenters invited students, families and coaches to come forward for certificates and photos; district staff said the recognitions will be shared in the district update and on the district website.
The recognitions item closed before the board opened the meeting’s public-agenda comment period and the formal consent votes later in the agenda.
