Donald Teuma-Castelletti
SHAWVILLE April 19, 2018
Prospective students from around the region toured Pontiac High School last Thursday evening, enjoying classroom demonstrations and taking in the talents that current students have to offer.
Pontiac High School held their annual open house evening on April 19, seeing elementary students rush about as they experienced much of what their next step has to offer before decisions are made on where they’d like to start grade seven.
“For any students that are coming from grade six, but also for any new students that are planning to come, even from other schools, this is the night when they come to have a chance to meet me, meet the teachers, find out a little bit about the school and then be able to go around [to the classrooms],” said PHS Principal Debra Stephens.
The evening began with an introduction to many of the teachers new grade sevens can expect to meet, as the auditorium was packed in with families and school staff. Stephens shared with parents and kids what they can expect their high school experience to be like and the importance of getting back what students put into their time at secondary school.
Soon enough, with all the business out of the way, teacher Brenda Davis took over, speaking of school spirit and the unity that accompanies it.
Upcoming grads Connor Stephens and Evan Atkinson made sure to crash this presentation, introducing the school’s house system and bestowing new students with their team colour. Grade sevens will inherit the colour green for spirit days, joining the house of Poseidon.
As well, Davis showed off the viral video from last fall’s pep rally, where TSN’s Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole threw their support behind PHS’ volleyball team ahead of the Pontiac Cup.
Soon after, families were let loose, free to explore the classrooms, gym and library as they pleased.
“We’ve got rocket launches happening, we’ve got kiosks set up around the school, we’ve got bake sales, we’ve got different displays happening in different rooms,” said Debra. “There’s lots, it’s a pretty happening place.”
While rockets popped off in the football field as a demonstration from Neil MacIntosh’s science class, art projects lined the hall and welding students toiled away on some upcoming amphibious machines (“They’re these beasts of machines, it’s very Mad Max,” explained Debra), there was plenty for everyone to find a passion for as kids raced about.
All the events, Debra was quick to point out, had been organized by school staff, including recruiting the many student volunteers to assist with the evening, from setting up to showing off everyone’s favourite bit of the building.
“I really just keep the right people in the right positions to keep the place spinning,” said Debra, of organizing the evening. “It’s about my team. The teachers and the staff members that I have at this school are just constantly thinking of new things for students to get involved in, new ways to volunteer, new clubs, new ideas and new things to do where they can learn and have fun at the same time.”
Coupled with the evening was a talent show, billed as the PHS 2018 Spring Coffee House, seeing all sorts of young singers and musicians hit the stage.
“We haven’t had [a talent show] with the open house before, so the timing for it is new for us,” said Debra. “We thought, since we were inviting people to the school anyways, we’d combine the two.”
With Connor and Atkinson keeping the evening going as emcees, 10 acts filled the auditorium with a ton of talent.
Kicking off the show was a rap performance, while much singing, guitars, a violin and even a wacky keyboard show, rounded out the evening’s performances.
