September 1963 - The "Other" Sixth Grade

Front Row L to R: Laura Alloway, Kurt Bronum, Carol Nelson, Fran Hoffman, Patti Burgess, John Schmidt, Carla Frey. Middle Row L to R: Patty Sullivan, Mark Lightcap, Stanley Alloway, Steve Erich, Vince Fitzgerald, Patti McShane, Mr. Smith. Back Row L to R: Billy Reim, John Steinle, Joanie Brucker, Randy Voldish, Dave Hampel. Missing: Rochelle Gramenzi, Sheron Wakely, Bill Hill.

There was always the "other" grade. Kids you knew and were your own age, but you didn't share the same teacher or the same classroom experiences. Some of them you knew from church or Cub Scouts or Brownies, and some of them were your neighbors. You just didn't get to know them as well as the kids you shared each and every day with.
I knew Mark Lightcap and Sheron Wakely from Kindergarden. We shared the very first days of school together. I'm not sure if they were moved into the "other" grades right after Kindergarden or not. I would get to know Billy Reim from Sunday School. Billy went every Sunday year after year. I was a sometimes Sunday School student. Billy had rows of yearly attendance pins on his suitcoat, I had two.
Rochelle Gramenzi was new in town. A pretty girl like Joyce and Sheila with the added allure of an exotic name. Too intimidating for a shy goofball like me.
Patty Burgess lived a few houses down from me on Walnut Avenue, right next door to the Lucas house. I never really knew her even though we lived close to each other.
I would pass Randy Voldish's house on Glassboro Road on my way to school. We talked to each other and would be friends for a while in high school. We shared the same passion for military history, especially World War II.
Kurt Bronum's mom was my Den Mother in Cub Scouts, so I had been to his house many times.
Patty Sullivan lived next door to my friends the Maddens on Glenwood Avenue, so I knew her pretty well. She was the first girl my own age that I kissed. It was up on Freund's Cliff. How I convinced her to let me to I can't remember, but it was quick and on the lips.
I never got to know the Alloways. They were quiet, and so was Fran Hoffman. Carol Nelson had been in my Fifth Grade class with Mrs. Nolte and now she had been moved into the "other" grade. Why? Who knows.
Vince Fitzgerald and I would pal around in Junior High school, Vince being a friend of my best pal, Steve Kay.
I never really knew Joanie Brucker at all, and Carla Frey and Patti McShane were cute girls I wish I had known.
John Steinle and I would end up in the National Honor Society in high school.
I'd sing in a rock band very briefly in high school and Steve Erich would play the sax in our group.
John Schmidt and I played sandlot baseball together, and Dave Hampel, well he was one-of-a-kind.
Their teacher Mr. Smith, did not have a very good reputation around the school. He was kind of creepy-looking. A bit sinister in appearance, he was dark and always looked like he needed a shave. I always felt like he'd fit right in living with my spooky neighbor Mrs. Price. What he was really like I have no idea, but I'm glad I'm in Mrs. Carey's class.
The "other" Sixth Grade. Some I knew well, others I knew not. All of them trying to get through another year of school in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey.