Sept. 28, 2025- This year's theme is ALL IN, and High School East teacher Emma Kobylarz and SRO Scott Kenny have taken that mantra to the next level and beyond.

In the spring of 2024, High School East was awarded a $10,000 grant from Sustainable Jersey for Schools to fulfill the promise of its proposed project, "Looking Outside and Inside," an outdoor space combining STEAM-based technology with accessibility for all in a natural setting.

Friday afternoon, the project— which evolved over time to be known as the Raider Retreat Outdoor Classroom— was revealed and celebrated during a ribbon-cutting event. Adjacent to the school, the retreat is just that— a shaded area with paved walkways that are wheelchair accessible, tables featuring the Raiders logo, benches, and a beautiful, tall wooden shed-like structure that reveals an educational white board for teaching and learning.

It takes a team to produce something like what the Raider Retreat became, and many people played a part in its success. But the hands that did the most belong to Kobylarz and Officer Kenny.

A STEAM Academy engineering teacher with considerable construction skills, Kobylarz built the tables, benches, and learning shed. Scott Kenny laid the walkways and patio, paver by paver. Principal Erin Anders remarks during the ceremony culminated with a special award for the two Raider Retreat reps.

"Your hard work, dedication, and creativity have made this space bigger and brighter than I ever could have imagined," Anders said.

HSE Supervisor Tiffany Lucey helped write the grant and implement the project. The school's special education team and its students consulted on the accessibility of the layout. The football team helped carry and install the heavy outdoor furniture. The result of all of those collaborative efforts and supervision and support from Anders and the district's special services team is a unique and welcoming space the school can utilize for years to come.

"I'm excited that our teachers can come out here and use this space," said East art teacher Bill Dishon. "It's nice not being surrounded by walls."

Dishon also spoke on behalf of the Toms River Education Association (TREA) and President Scott Campbell; the cycle of Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants that netted the project was funded by the NJEA.

Hinting at the space's educational potential, students filled the tables, chairs, and benches on a gorgeous afternoon. Following everyone's remarks and the ribbon-cutting itself, East teacher Graceanne Taylor was already openly wondering how she and her environmental science students could book the space for future lessons.

And the Raider Retreat Outdoor Classroom is, indeed, open for business. While it might be outside, it's clear that everybody wants ALL IN.

Photos below of the ribbon-cutting event are courtesy of Allison Goodwin.