Conor O’Keeffe, 6, attends first grade at the Huber Street School. He knows exactly what he wants for Christmas.
“I want trains and a train simulator,” he said last week, referring to a computer program. “I love the movie The Polar Express.”
The 2004 movie was based on a 1985 children’s book about trains, and has become a classic Christmas story for young children.
Inside the school, principal Fred Ponti was asked a fundamental question every school principal should know: Are your kids naughty or nice?
Ponti did not hesitate to reply.
“They are very nice children,” he said. “For the most part, this is a wonderful place to work.”
Dolls and video games
Outside in the schoolyard last week, the kids’ comments confirmed Ponti’s confidence.
Brother and sister Brittany and Joshua Torres are first and third graders respectively at Huber Street School. Brittany, 6, is hoping for an electronic version of her favorite doll.
“I want the Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses game,” she said. “I always play with Barbie.”
Joshua, 9, was more technologically inclined.
“I want a X-Box 360,” he said, alluding to the highly popular Microsoft video game system. “It’s the coolest.”
Their mother Crystal noted that the Torres family is new to Secaucus. She’s looking forward to her first Christmas in town.
“We just moved to Secaucus,” she said. “It’s the first time we’ve got everybody in the same house. We found at opportunity, so we came here.”
Music and motorcycles
Joseph Walsh, 10, is a fifth grader who is musically inclined.
“I like music, so I want a iPod nano,” he said. “I like listening to rap and rock.”
His friend Thomas Eckert, 9, is a fourth grader who wants a PlayStation Portable for a practical reason.
“Because mine broke,” he said.
His next Christmas request was somewhat less practical.
“I want a mini-motorcycle,” he said. “It only goes 20 miles per hour.”
Thomas’ birthday is very close to Christmas, but his mother Michelle maintained that he does not get gypped by the combination.
“I make sure that Christmas and his birthday are separate things,” she said.
Sisters and cell phones
Rebecca Gohde, 9, is a fourth grader at Huber Street School. Her Christmas wish list includes something cinematic.
“I want the Cheetah Girls 2 movie,” she said. “I like how they sing.”
Rebecca’s sister Jessica, 5, is in kindergarten. She wants something simpler.
“I want a fish,” she said. “An orange one.”
First grader Samantha Grecco, 6, wants an iPod. “I like to listen to music,” she said.
Fourth grader Danielle Ingenito, 9, wants something that will help her keep in contact with those around her.
“I want a cell phone,” she said. “In case there is an emergency or I can’t find my parents, I can call them. I can also call my friends.”
Honesty and suggestions
Paul Garramuno Jr. is a second grader at the Huber Street School. He was very specific about his age. “I’m seven and a half years old,” he said.
His Christmas wishes are rooted in both fun time and school time.
“I want a computer,” he said. “I can play video games on it, color, and do book reports.”
Most of the children of Secaucus maintained that they were good this year. Although one parent did chime in with “Check your memory banks, sweetie.”
However, with the same exactitude that he had about his age, Paul broke ranks with his schoolmates.
“I’m a little bit of both,” he said. “I’d say I’m good about 80 percent of the time.”
His father, Paul Sr., thought his son’s Christmas chances were good.
“He’s a great kid,” he said. “I can’t complain.”
How ’bout a bigger skate park?
Tristan Balderacchi, 10, is a fifth grader who wants some conventional gifts: a video iPod, a new bike and a skateboard. But Tristan also wouldn’t mind a gift from the powers that be in Secaucus.
“My dad said that he would probably give me a skateboard,” he said. “You can skate over by Buchmuller Park, but not that many people skate, because the skate park isn’t that big. There used to be a skate park down by the town pool, but they took that down for more parking. They should make another skate park so that people have a better place to skate.”
Tristan had a final thought about what Christmas means to him.
“It’s fun, and it’s a good time for families to be together,” he said. “It’s also the time when Christ was born. That’s basically what’s good about Christmas.”
“I’d say I’m good about 80 percent of the time.” – Paul Garramuno Jr.
“I want a fish. An orange one.” – Jessica Gohde