A Brutal New Jersey School Year Finishes On A Touching High Note

Sad. Lonely. Boring. Confusing. Frustrating. Those are just a few of the words my 10-year-old son used at different points this year to describe what he was going through at different times. I mean, it certainly was not a typical school year and not for the better. However, it ended on a soaring high note as evidenced in this must-see video.

Listen to JB afternoons on 92.7 WOBM and download our free 92.7 WOBM app.

Berkeley Township Elementary School - - Credit JB

While I know it wasn't the same experience and the kids did miss out on socialization and, likely, some level of educational instruction was sacrificed but it wasn't all bad. In fact, there was a lot of good. My son's teachers were all upbeat, communicative, and helpful with him and my family throughout the year. I know that students and parents had a very difficult year, but so did teachers and school administration. I have so much respect for the jobs they all did while handling adversity and navigating through really tough situations. That's why the video below from the Berkeley Township School District really warmed my heart. After being through virtual teaching, social distancing, masks, and more; the most challenging year of school (certainly in my lifetime) was coming to an end and it was completed with smiles, screams, and waves of joy.

How did you feel about this school year? How did your family do? Congratulations to all the students, teachers, faculty, and families that made it through 2021. We'll all be stronger for it! PS - what do you think about this list?

LOOK: Here is the richest town in each state

Just saying the names of these towns immediately conjures up images of grand mansions, luxury cars, and ritzy restaurants. Read on to see which town in your home state took the title of the richest location and which place had the highest median income in the country. Who knows—your hometown might even be on this list.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in New Jersey

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.