The torrential morning rains did nothing to dampen the excitement as students strolled down a red carpet Monday, Aug. 12, and into their first day at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS).
“Our students are the stars at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, and we wanted to treat them like it,” said Gina Jeffries, EdD, CHS director. “We, the Charter High School faculty and staff are the supporting actors.”
The Red Carpet welcome was taken indoors, and CHS faculty, staff and others lined the hallways outside of the cafeteria at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. Also cheering on the students were Phillip Weishaar, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning; Kim Durr, chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor and CHS board member; Tiffany Caguitla, SIUE East St. Louis Center assistant director; and Willis Young, retired CHS assistant director.
Following the Red Carpet greeting, students were welcomed and given brief instructions for the first day of classes.
“I am blessed and delighted to be your principal,” Jeffries told the crowd. “We are so glad that you are here and are ready to rock out learning from day number one.”
Jeffries introduced her “rock star team” who included:
- Bridget Nelson, English
- Carolyn Kribs, social studies
- Colin, Neumeyer, English and Spanish
- Anna Turner, math
- Basil Yurcision, math
- Hope Jordan, art
- George Laktzian, math
- Stephanie Newton, reading and math interventionist
- Johnathan Tate, STEM
- Edith Laktzian, resource teacher
- Mildred Fort, science
- Aaron Vance, physical education and social studies
- Shawn Roundtree, social worker
- Pamela Saffore, counselor
The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century.
Photo:
Sophomore Damien Johnson is all smiles on the first day of school at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School.