Eighth graders at the Ventnor Educational Community Complex enjoyed the Ventnor City PBA's annual beach party at Newport Avenue beach Tuesday, June 11.
VENTNOR - Graduating eighth graders at the Ventnor Educational Community Complex enjoyed an end-of-the-school-year party on the beach at Newport Avenue Tuesday, June 11. The weather was perfect for a picnic by the beach - lots of sun with cool breezes.
The annual event, which is sponsored by Ventnor PBA Local 97, has been held every year for as long as anyone can remember, Police Chief Doug Biagi said.
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Police cooked up some burgers for about 70 academically eligible students who will leaving the confines of middle school to experience new challenged in high school starting in September.
"This tradition has been going on since I was a kid," Biagi said.
One of the students, Alana Gilbert, received a police escort to the beach on the big balloon-wheeled chair made necessary because she sprained her ankle playing soccer.
Principal Rob Baker said this is the first year in a long time that he can remember that every student will graduate on time.
"This was a very good class, both academically and behaviorally," he said.
Under the watchful eye of the Beach Patrol, students played football at the water's edge, lounged in the sand to work on their tans, and listened to their favorite tunes on the radio.
