On the splendid occasion of her 87th birthday January 24th, Sue Bouwens, who thought she was coming to the Newark Central School District Office just to do some substitute clerical work, was wonderfully feted beforehand to a surprise party luncheon.
To view the designed article with photos from her celebration, visit: https://5il.co/36lrn
Bouwens teared up after she was escorted into the nicely decorated conference room where several of the DO’s employees happily surprised her. Then they all had lunch _ taco bar fixings, pizza and desserts.
To say she was surprised was an understatement.
“I was overwhelmed,’’ Bouwens recalled Jan. 27th during her lunch break from alphabetizing files at the DO. “I still am. It really hit me when I got home Friday. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t.”
Last year, after Stacy Warren, secretary to Superintendent Susan Hasenauer and Data Coordinator learned just how long Bouwens had worked for the school district. She was hired in Jan. 1968, retired in 2000 and has continued as a substitute ever since then. Warren suggested to her colleagues at the DO that Bouwens’ recent birthday would be a perfect opportunity to recognize her unique work history.
“We thought Sue should be recognized and know how much we appreciate all she does,’’ Warren said. “Sue is an inspiration to me and proof that staying active in retirement is vital!”
Bouwens said began subbing two hours a day as a cafeteria monitor at age 29 in October 1967 at the East Palmyra school building where some of NCSD’s fifth graders attended classes for two years while the new Kelley School (now Newark Middle School) was being built on the Peirson Avenue campus in Newark. In Jan. 1968, she was hired as an aide at the East Palmrya School.
When Kelley School opened, she was asked by Principal Bill Springett to come there in the same capacity and as time went on her duties were expanded to include office and switchboard work when needed.
When Bouwens retired in 2000, she worked as a substitute until her replacement was hired and then continued working as needed as a clerical substitute at Lincoln, Perkins and Kelley Schools. For the last several years, she has mostly subbed at the DO for Cathy Jadus, who is Registrar for the NCSD.
“It’s been nice to have an extra hand when I’m tied up with something else,” Jadus said. “Sue is very personable, dependable and knowledgeable because she has worked in the district for so long. We’re very lucky to have her.”
“I greatly appreciate Sue for all her years of service to our school district as we welcome and encourage staff who decide to work beyond their retirement to come back and work with us,” said Superintendent Susan Hasenauer. “Sue is such a welcoming presence in our District Office as she always greets everyone with a smile. We’re so happy she considers the Newark Central School District her home.”
Bouwens, whose husband Jake passed away in 2020 just two weeks before their 63rd anniversary, enjoys spending time with her family _ especially her great grandchildren. And she really enjoys being a substitute.
“I like being busy. I love the people I’m working with in the District Office. I don’t work that often. As long as I can do it, I will,” she said, noting she had worked as a front desk volunteer at Newark Wayne Community Hospital and had earned a 1000 volunteer hour pin before she stopped during COVID years.
As part of her surprise party Jan. 28th at the DO, Bouwens who loves jewelry and especially wearing several bracelets, received two lovely bracelets and as flower arrangement as gifts and a really nice card DO staff well-wishers signed.
Two former NCSD employees Sue Carr, who before retiring last year was the HR Personnel Assistant and Sharon DeMarco, formerly an NCSD account clerk also briefly visited the party and gave Sue a lovely flower arrangement.