High Schools Produce Video Orientations

Jackson School BOE
Photo by Micromedia Publications

  JACKSON – Students, staff, parents, administrators and teachers are all preparing for the start of what will be the most unusual and unique school year ever experienced.

  Schools in Jackson are no exception as they prepare to head back to the classroom albeit in an abbreviated day mixed with in-class instruction and remote learning.

  Nicole Pormilli is beginning her first school year as the district’s superintendent. She expressed during a recent Board of Education meeting that “we are redoing everything we know about education.”

  During her superintendent’s report she went over how the schools of the district would be reopening. “We have been busy communicating with our parents and families and our administrative team has been working extremely hard for many, many hours to prepare schedules for both in-person and remote learners. It is definitely a unique start to our school year. Nothing is as it was.”

  To prepare high school students for their entry to a new and now different school environment, videos for this year’s orientation process were produced.

  At Jackson Liberty High School Principal Geoff Brignola said during a 9th grade Virtual Orientation video “as you know we are in different times this year. I want you to know that we are really excited about this new year to begin.”

  Brignola told students, “whether it is administrators, teachers, staff, security, cafeteria workers, custodians – we are here to support you. We are also here to challenge you. We are going to raise the bar of expectations but we are here to get you above that bar. We have a lot of things to offer you this year. Whether it be the hybrid schedule or the remote schedule to bring you the high school experience as it should be.”

  He addressed parents since they, too, are probably feeling anxious. “We are not only here for your children but we are here for you as well. We want and need your help. Stay engaged. We want to make this high school experience as memorable for the students as possible.”

  Brignola urged parents to call or e-mail the school with any questions or concerns they may have.

  Rob Paneque serves as the athletic director at Liberty High School and Jackson Memorial High School. He was part of the orientation video and said, “give athletics an opportunity. There are a lot of things out there. We have over 28 different types of sports at all different levels. We really think that being involved in high school athletics is real important.”

  “We are in a different world and things are different than they have been in the past and we need to be as flexible as possible. You may see some things change as to how we have to run things,” Paneque told students.

  The video for Jackson Memorial High School’s orientation had a similar introduction showcasing scenes of the schools exterior, interior and activities of the past. It opened by Principal Kevin DiEugenio who welcomed students saying, “certainly the start of the school year may look a little different to all of us. In essence we are looking to have an outstanding year.”

  He added that a lot of sports and club activities would be part of the school year despite the pandemic conditions as well as an enriching curriculum. Students and staff members provided a virtual tour of the school in the video.

  Thomas Tarver, the school’s assistant principal said, “we look forward to getting things back to normal whenever that is.” He added his own personal connection to the district as having attended an elementary, middle and high school in Jackson. “We look forward to interacting with you when it is safe to do so.”

  Also featured in the video was Marites Delfin who is one of two school nurses at Memorial High School. “Parents and guardians need to have an alternate plan in place should their children become ill during the school day. Students will be excluded from school if they have a temperature above 100.4.”

  A list of health criteria was included in the video regarding the steps that would be taken by the district as well as what parents would have to do concerning incidents of illness.

  The orientation videos were produced through the school district’s Jackson TV production team.