Two Hightstown High School freshmen won free burritos each week for a year.
During the freshman orientation culminating activity on Sept. 28, there was a presentation of two “Free Burrito Each Week for a Year” certificates from Moe’s Southwest Grille. Bud Patel, owner of the Moe’s restaurants in East Windsor, Hamilton, and Somerset, presented the gift cards, along with Catering Manager Dana DiJulio and Principal Dennis Vinson to winning students Cheyenne Branch and Destiny Pierre.
Early in September, close to 400 freshmen students began their orientation to Hightstown High School in a festive, inclusive environment, which aimed to set the tone for their next four years.
The day began with an assembly, where expectations, school guidelines, and procedural activities were outlined. The students were able to meet their teachers and school administration, practice walking through their daily schedules, and enjoy visiting with each other and the staff in a picnic-like atmosphere, complete with live music performed by staff and administrators.
East Windsor Regional School District Interim Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella, Principal Vinson, members of the district central administration, along with most of the high school teachers, cooked and served typical summer fare while also taking the time to interact with the students on personal level.
Local businesses and community leaders helped make orientation fun, friendly, and free to all students. Assisting in the actual food preparation were also local politicians, local business leaders, representatives from local companies, and local cultural leaders. This year, Mercer County Community College President Jianping Wang and a few of her staff joined the celebration by providing parents with important college information as well as preparing and serving the picnic lunch.
This is the eighth year that the East Windsor Regional School District, in conjunction with local business, has been able to offer the incoming freshmen a relaxing, enjoyable, and informative day of school orientation prior to the official start of school. Each year multiple local businesses have worked with the high school administrative team to deliver a no-cost and enjoyable first experience at the high school.
This activity reflects and strengthens the friendly and productive working relationship the school district has developed with the local business, political, and cultural communities it serves.
