Hidden(ish) Heroes

The front desk is the first stop for students, parents, and visitors, and the staff there makes sure the school runs safely and smoothly every single day.

Mr. Cloonan was the first to discuss his daily responsibilities at the office. 

“I work with all of the substitute teachers here and supply them with the things that they need. I also do a lot with athletics,” Mr. Cloonan explained, “I take all of the game information and put it on our athletics account. When I open the doors, I make sure everyone is safe. I work on the Newsletter, contact parents, and the school's website. I help put stuff up on the TVs and graphics. It's a lot.” 

With so many responsibilities, Mr. Cloonan believes organization is the key to keeping everything moving smoothly. 

“[I have] constant sticky notes, to-do lists, calendars, nonstop throughout the day,”  Mr. Cloonan shared.

Even with the workload, he explained that the best part of his job comes from connecting with people.

“The interactions and conversations [are the best], but if someone is on school grounds when they aren't supposed to be, I go from being Mr. Nice Guy to being Not-So-Mr. Nice Guy. Keeping the students and staff safe is the priority,” Mr. Cloonan stated.

Moving out of the office, the school janitor works behind the scenes every day to keep the building safe and welcoming for students and staff by doing tasks from unlocking doors in the morning to making sure the hallways shine. Beyond cleaning, Mr. Behrens explained that communication plays a big role in keeping everything running. 

“You know what, I’d say a lot of communication [is essential]. I talk to pretty much anybody and everybody,” Mr. Behrens explained. 

The cafeteria takes most of Mr. Behrens' time and effort to keep clean. In the busy cafeteria, the lunch line isn’t just about meals. It’s also where students stop for snacks and see the friendly staff who keep everything running smoothly.

“Oh gosh, probably pizza [would be the most popular lunch],” stated Ms. Schuman.

Pizza may top the list, but Ms. Schuman explained that the kitchen staff also has to be careful with special diets. “Your parents have to fill out a form,” explained Ms. Schuman. “And we have a special menu that we have to make the food from, like gluten-free buns and dairy-free items.”

Even with the challenges of planning meals, Ms. Schuman said she loved spending time with the students. 

“[My favorite part is] mainly serving you guys!” Ms. Shuman shared. “We try to be friendly, remember names, say hello when you guys come in, and Li loves to put up decorations for holidays.”

Next to the cafeteria, the school library can be seen. It isn’t just about books, it’s also where students hang out, learn new things, and get help when they need it. Ms. Morris described the library as a place where reading is alive and constantly moving. 

“Manga is very popular, and fantasy series are also very popular,” Ms. Morris said. Some titles, Morris explained, are checked out more than others. “‘Naruto’ is an example of a manga that is checked out a lot. ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ is a prequel to the Hunger Games series,” said Ms. Morris.

Running a library, however, comes with challenges. “When it gets super busy and when there are a bunch of kids that need something from me or Ms. Davis, but we are both busy working with other students…is the most challenging part,” Ms. Morris said. 

She added that keeping the library welcoming is about setting the right tone.

“Most students are respectful of the library space,” explained Ms. Morris. “When they come in here, they understand it’s not like being in the hallways or in the commons.”

Despite that, she believes the library is a place full of rewards.

“[I love] all of it!” Ms. Morris exclaimed. “I really enjoy getting kids in here to read. I also enjoy having incentive programs: we get them reading, we get them thinking.”