Rahway High School Celebrates ‘Bring Your Child to Work Day’ with Food, Fun, Flowers, and More!

RAHWAY, NJ — On Thursday, April 23, Rahway High School (RHS) celebrated “Bring Your Child to Work Day” in festive style, packing the day with activities, experiments, photography, dancing, games, and more. Dr. Michelle Panichi, RHS's new principal, serving in her first year at the high school helm, was pleased to host the day and to welcome the children of her dedicated team of educators and staff members.Bring Your Child to Work Day (BYCWD), which is held annually on the fourth Thursday in April, hadn't been observed in the Rahway Public Schools since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, standardized testing requirements, and other conflicts. The event, which began nationally in 1993, initially focused on bringing girls into the workplace in order to enlarge their perspectives on potential career opportunities. It was expanded to include both boys and girls in 2003.At RHS, Dr. Panichi enlisted the help of longtime special education teacher Ms. Diane Pescatore to make the day a success. Pescatore, something of a BYCWD resident expert, had organized the event for many years prior to the pandemic, transforming the high school and its many classrooms into a welcoming abode of learning, eating, entertainment, and camaraderie.By the time the nearly 30 young guests arrived at the building on Thursday morning, Panichi, Pescatore, and a committed team of volunteers were ready for them.The day opened with a bagel breakfast provided by Dr. Panichi, followed by a tour of RHS. From there, activities aplenty ensued, overseen by faculty volunteers spread throughout various classrooms on the three floors of the high school.The agenda for the day was brimming with pretty much something for everyone, with activities that ranged from the culinary to the kinesthetic, from the floral to the cinematic, including flower pot decorating, video production, photography, dance lessons, cookie decorating, wacky science experiments, gymnasium games, and more.RHS's special guests enjoyed a pizza lunch, while school nurse Ms. Charlene Lesinski packed healthy goody bags so that no one left empty-handed.Dr. Panichi and Ms. Pescatore were exceedingly appreciative of all the help they received to make the day memorable and meaningful. They thanked the building vice principals—Ms. Katelyn Banks, Dr. Michael Celoski, and Mr. Dawe Peralta—secretaries Ms. Tawana Elliotte and Ms. Renee Ford-Haynes, Ms. Zara Cana, Ms. Kaitlyn Secor, Mr. Jeffrey Romano, Ms. Deanna Flanagan, Ms. Julie Koft, Ms. Olivia Kuhrt, Mr. Eric Podell, Mx. Chelsea Russell, Gunnery Sergeant John Sardine, and Mr. Michael O'Halloran and the members of his Photography Club.Student volunteers rounded out the experience, offering assistance and support during the various activities, interacting and socializing with the children, while ensuring everyone had a good time.Members of the service club Blue Tri, along with students representing several of the school's honor societies, accounted for a majority of those assisting teachers and staff, sharing their time and talents in support of the day.Ms. Pescatore was very happy with how everything turned out and especially glad that Bring Your Child to Work Day had finally returned to Rahway High School.Dr. Panichi was equally pleased and proud of the collective efforts of her team.“Bring Your Child to Work Day was more than a visit—it was an invitation for our children to see possibility, purpose, and pride in our career path as educators,” Panichi noted. “The greatest lesson we can offer is to connect school, family, and community, reminding us that it truly takes all three to shape students' futures!”And if making those connections was indeed the goal, it is no exaggeration to say that this year's Bring Your Child to Work Day at Rahway High School was a singular and unsurpassed success.[Don’t miss any TAPinto Rahway news. Go to tapinto.net/enews to sign up for our free e-newsletter, delivered each morning to your inbox.]