PASCACK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT—It’s an exchange of valentines like no other. To kick off their second semester, the Pascack Regional High School District Communication Department engineered a surprise for teachers and students.
Teachers secretly made “shout out” videos for their students, just as students were doing the same for their cheerfully unaware teachers—sharing moments that add a rich dimension to a distanced school year.
Paul Zeller, district director of technology and communication, along with his intern, Samantha Goldman of Woodcliff Lake, a senior at Pascack Hills, worked on this project that’s all about appreciation.
Their hope: Let everyone in the Pascack Valley Regional High School community know how much everyone cares for one another.
Now it’s out for all to see: 168 messages touching on the school communities of Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale and Woodcliff Lake. Check out the PVRHSD YouTube channel to watch the touching tributes.
Zeller extended thanks to all who participated “and to everyone in our community for making this a truly special place.”
He told Pascack Press on Feb. 10 that 101 students submitted video greetings, with the remainder recorded by faculty and staff. He credited Goldman, who’ll be headed to Tulane University to study communication, for her organizational skill and her expertise with video editing and production. He said the project took a month from start to finish.
Asked about morale at the district with regard to uncertainty and upheaval around the pandemic, he said, “It’s as positive as it can be. No one is excited that we have to do this. Everybody would prefer that we’re all in class. Everybody’s looking forward to life getting back to normal.”
The students’ video is bracketed with text reading, “Dear PVRHSD teachers and counselors… Throughout the craziness of this year each of you have impacted us in ways in which we cannot fully express through Google Meets and Zoom lessons.
“So as your students all across the district, here is our message to you: Not only have you been our educators and mentors, you’ve been our motivators and leaders. We’re halfway through so let’s keep moving forward—together.”
The PV teachers’ video begins with a quote from South African human rights activist and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
The Hills teachers’ video reminds students of artist and philosopher Elbert Hubbard’s maxim: “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.”
Internships!
Speaking of videos, the district notes that many seniors participate in a unique learning experience: its internship program.
“Real-life experience in healthcare, business, teaching, and many other industries provide students opportunities to explore a career path of their interest, all while working alongside internship site mentor,” it says.
Madison Szabo, a student in the internship program, produced a video to showcase what this opportunity means for students. Check it out, along with other district resources, at pascack.org.
