Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

There was a table full of real adult hard hats and big black shovels, and one with toy plastic hard hats and little red shovels. When it came time for some ceremonial groundbreaking outside Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke, the little shovels got used first, though Benjamin Wisnosky balked at participating.

As Kennedy Elementary Principal John Gorham called the names of several pre-school and kindergarten students to join in the digging, Benjamin pouted, buried his head in his mother’s dress, and slapped the little yellow hard hat away. Fear not, though. As more children stepped to the table to get their gear, Benjamin took to the notion and started lining up with the rest.

Greater Nanticoke Area officially broke ground for the expansion and renovation of the school to create the Kennedy Early Childhood Center. The project is expected to cost about $8 million, with $3 million reimbursed by the state. After it’s done, K.M. Smith School will be closed and all district students will be taking classes at a single campus along Kosciuszko Street.

During the brief ceremony, Superintendent Ron Grevera said the Kennedy school was among the first elementary schools in the nation named for President John F. Kennedy following his assassination. He also said Kennedy had been a staunch supporter of education as a means to “move people from poverty to prosperity.”

By the time the adults were done talking and the kids got to dig into a pile of fresh brown dirt on the lawn outside the front of the school, Benjamin was practically beaming, and like most of the youngsters, didn’t stop with a single shovel of dirt.

By comparison, the adults were, well, boring in their posed smiles and scant real shovel action.

The youngsters, who either already attend kindergarten in the district or — like Benjamin — are expected to attend in the expanded school, also got to release red and white balloons into the air.

But the real highlight?

They got to keep the hats and shovels.

Ian Verazin, 5, waits to ceremonialy move some dirt at the John F Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke4/27/17. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL042817groundbreaking1.jpg.optimal.jpgIan Verazin, 5, waits to ceremonialy move some dirt at the John F Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke4/27/17. Aimee Dilger | Times LeaderAimee Dilger | Times Leader

Superintendent Dr. Ronald Grevera tries to rally some children back to their parents after the kids shoveled dirt for a cerimonial groundbreaking at the John F Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke. 4/27/17. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL042817groundbreaking3.jpg.optimal.jpgSuperintendent Dr. Ronald Grevera tries to rally some children back to their parents after the kids shoveled dirt for a cerimonial groundbreaking at the John F Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke. 4/27/17. Aimee Dilger | Times LeaderAimee Dilger | Times Leader

Ian Verazin, 5, waits to ceremonially move some dirt at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL042817groundbreaking1-toned.jpg.optimal.jpgIan Verazin, 5, waits to ceremonially move some dirt at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Nanticoke. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Greater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Dr. Ronald Grevera tries to usher some children back to their parents after the kids shoveled dirt for a ceremonial groundbreaking at John F. Kennedy Elementary.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL042817groundbreaking2-toned.jpg.optimal.jpgGreater Nanticoke Area Superintendent Dr. Ronald Grevera tries to usher some children back to their parents after the kids shoveled dirt for a ceremonial groundbreaking at John F. Kennedy Elementary. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Mark Guydish

[email protected]

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish