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“You are awesome!” “So good to see you!” “This is going to be your year!” These were some of the personalized shouts of welcome and praise that greeted each Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) student who walked down a red carpet on their first day of school, Monday, Aug. 15. 

CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD; CHS Assistant Director Liza Cummings, PhD; CHS Board of Directors President Willis Young; CHS teachers and staff; SIUE East St. Louis Executive Director Timothy Staples, EdD; and Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Jessica Harris, PhD; lined up on either side of the red carpet with welcome signs and motivational cheers as scholars made their way into Building D on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus. 

CHS parents dropping off their students honked their car horns and waved hello to the buoyant and exuberant red-carpet greeters. 

“Welcome, amazing scholars,” shouted Jeffries to a group on oncoming students. “You are going to have a fabulous year!” 

“This is going to be a remarkably incredible year,” Jeffries told the red-carpet greeters during a lull in foot traffic. “It is my privilege and honor to rock out education with each one of you, whether you are an internal or external stakeholder and supporter.” 

“I’m glad I’m here,” said freshman Jarrell “Antonio” James, who was the first student to arrive. “I want to learn about the Charter School, its origins and why it was created. I want to better my education while I’m here and get involved in some clubs that focus on my interests, like books and games.” 

“I have received many more opportunities by coming to the Charter High School,” said senior Maya Scott. “I feel extremely confident in the teachers and in the skills that I’m going to attain here. I’ve been at the Charter High School for almost four years, and I expect my senior year to be a great one.” 

Inside the Multipurpose Room, CHS students were met with another rousing greeting that began their first-day orientation. 

CHS teachers and staff introduced themselves, their respective field of study or concentration and a gave a word of encouragement. 

“My word is ‘hope,’” added Jeffries. “Keep your hope no matter what.” 

“My word this morning is ‘work,’” said CHS English teacher Colin Neumeyer. 

“My word is ‘believe,’” offered CHS social studies teacher Carolyn Stewart. “Believe in yourself.” 

“My word is ‘be consistent,’” said CHS science teacher Mildred Fort. “Because once you stop or get behind, you get overwhelmed.” 

“My word is ‘endurance,’” said Young. “Never give up. When you are down, all you must do is come to someone in this room, and I guarantee they will give you the encouragement that you need to get through whatever it is you are going through.” 

CHS English teacher Stephanie Newton explained some of CHS policies and protocol, shared how the rest of the day was organized and led the students in the school creed: 

“At SIUE East St. Louis Charter, we believe in ourselves, our school, and our community. We believe we can learn and succeed academically. We believe we can teach and lead for tomorrow. And our future starts with the decisions we make today.” 

CHS team members for the 2022-23 academic year include: Mildred Fort, Marquita Holton, Agathe Ilungam, Ron Irving, Sajiyah Jalil, Hope Jordan, Edith Laktzian, Greg Laktzian, Tomisha Montgomery, Bridget Nelson, Colin Neumeyer, Stephanie Newton, Carolyn Stewart, Johnathan Tate, Anna Turner and Aaron Vance. 

CHS has enrolled its limit of 120 students this year and has a waiting list, according to Jeffries. 

The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century. 

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SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School administrators, teachers and staff eagerly greeted students to the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 15.