Parents of the more than 2,000 Watchung Hills Regional High School (WHRHS) students experienced a micro-version of a day in the life of their son’s or daughter’s school day during the 2016 Back to School Night, Thursday, Oct. 6, at the school. For the convenience of parents who could not attend Thursday night’s Back to School Night, from 7 to 9 p.m., an identical Back to School Day was offered on Monday morning, Oct. 10 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Following their child’s typical school day, parents scurried through the school’s sprawling educational plant, to meet the teachers and hear short presentations about a course’s syllabus and expectations for the semester.
The school’s Art Department posted student artwork throughout the school’s entrance atrium. School sports teams and extracurricular activities presented information on bulletin boards. And school administrators, and teachers and student volunteers roamed hallways to answer questions about how to best get from one part of the school to another. The South Cafeteria included student and parent booster club representatives from a variety of sports and activities. They displayed information about their team or activity, and some sold school spirit apparel as fundraisers.
The student government’s All Student Council, opened the school’s “Spirit Store,” where on Friday lunch periods and Friday afternoons, students can purchase apparel bearing the WHRHS logo, colors and nickname, “Warriors.” Parents could purchase these items at Back To School Night, and could pick up a flier listing the school store’s web address, www.shop.mvpteamgear.com/Watcchung-Hills- School-Store_c184.htm, where they can purchase school apparel on-line anytime.
Among the fundraising items available by the Softball team was a WHRHS umbrella, suitable for watching any sport that persists and plays despite a little rain in the sky. The Softball team also offered hats, and a variety of shirts, and sweatshirts.
In addition to the Spirit Store and Softball Team, there were displays and students representing the Yearbook, the Chorus, the Script and Cue Dramatic Club, the Marching Band, and Lacrosse. The student who played Lacrosse also played Field Hockey, and could answer questions about both teams. The Chorus singers offered WHRHS dress ties. Script and Cue offered minicupcakes. The Marching Band offered cowbells and multi-purpose rally towels.
Out in the entrance atrium, the Watchung Hills Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) had information about the PTO monthly meeting dates, a membership form, and a welcome letter from the PTO officers. This year’s PTO officers are: President Danielle Heise, Vice Presidents Aparna Virmani and Barbara Boschen, Corresponding Secretary Jennie Renzo, Treasurers Emily Peng and Marjorie Lee, and Teacher Liaison Sean DiGiovanna.
(above) Student staffers presented information the Watchung Hills Regional High School (WHRHS) Yearbook at Back to School Night, Thursday, Oct. 6. They are, standing left, Sophomore Isha Kasu of Warren Township, standing right Senior McKenzie Schuyler of Green Brook Township, and seated, Senior Emily Yan of Warren. Schuyler and Yan are editors. They said the Yearbook is a year-long project that includes interim deadlines each quarter on the way to the final product at the end of the school year.
(above) Senior Allison Horvath of Warren Township, and SophomoreElizabeth Chapleski of Green Brook Township represented the WHRHS Tri-M Music Honor Society and the WHRHS Chorus at the WHRHS Back To School
Night, Thursday, Oct. 6. The annual Winter Choral Concert, which is open to the public, is at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16.
