The Brick Memorial High School faculty and staff are back and raring to go!  Though August 3st was probably a sleepless night, filled with anticipation for the return, the teachers and staff were energized and eager to discover new ideas, initiatives, and institutional policies the administrators collaborated on during the summer.

The staff of Brick Memorial was welcomed by two award-winning groups: our marching band and cheerleaders (click here), both providing a burst of energy that even the strongest cup of coffee (free from Wawa) could not provide!  Mr. Barresi and the assistant principals bestowed a lovely breakfast, and Dr. Thomas Farrell, our superintendent, gave a rousing speech, asking the staff to focus on their “why” – meaning “why do we choose this profession?”  Dr. Farrell, who himself has been a dedicated educator for over two decades, spoke sincerely about the importance of working as educators and how it’s important that every member of this district want to be here, for it’s through that desire and our understanding of ourselves that we will succeed in connecting with our students.

The two days of professional development contained many areas that included exciting events planned for the students when they arrive on September 6th.

Though the summer has come to an end, there was a calming feeling of familiarity in the building, as teachers greeted each other and shared stories of their summer excitement, but there was a huge piece of the Mustang puzzle missing, and that was the students.  Unanimously, teachers, administrators, and staff all agree that this building is merely bricks and mortar until students breathe fresh air into it!  We cannot wait to see the faces of our senior veterans and new faces of eager (and perhaps nervous) freshmen, as everyone in between!  By September 7th, all the faces will be family, because “once a Mustang, always a Mustang!”