EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP ¾ The roar of 5HP
diesel engine revving up every ten minutes on Saturday drew kids to Egg Harbor
Township High School’s Electrical Technology Teacher Etzel Brower’s display to flip
the switch-wired ignition circuit. Once there, they were able to see first-hand
how a 150-amp circuit breaker panel and a 4-stroke engine work, and test out a
solar-powered USB charger.
Across the parking lot, the district’s Español para
Hispanohablantes program, a NJDOE-recognized World Languages Model Program, was
being introduced to visitors, while Eagle Greenery students – showcasing their award-winning
floriculture academic program at the high school – were selling fresh-cut
flowers.
Saturday’s
#EHTPride Festival was all about Egg Harbor Township and what sets the local
public school district apart, both academically and as a community.
There
was something for everyone at the inaugural event, co-hosted by the Egg Harbor
Township Education Foundation and Community Partnership for Egg Harbor Township
Schools, Inc.
Held in
the Egg Harbor Township High School parking lot from 11 am – 4 pm and showcasing
more than 100 academic,
extra-curricular, athletic, performing arts, and school fundraising activities,
the festival featured a free bounce house, laser tag, RC2U portable
remote controlled 24’ x 20’ car track, a basketball hoop, rowing machines, a
giant checker board, face painting, temporary tattoos, bowling, hands-on
games for kids, and six food trucks including: Asian Street Cravings, Bare
Knuckle Café, Ken’s Ice Cream, Kona Ice, Pirate Pete’s Soda Pop Co., and
Wipeout Eats.
The
Bargaintown Fire Co. brought a ladder truck, the 177th Fighter Wing arrived
with a Humvee, and the district provided a school bus for up-close and personal
viewing. Also represented were Atlantic County Utilities Authority, The Hero
Campaign, Stop The Heroin, EHT Police and Recreation Departments, EHT Nature
Reserve, and Greate Egg Harbour Historical Society. Senior Ambassador students lead
high school tours of the renovation project completed in
2009 that added dozens of new classrooms, expanded science labs, and a new
gymnasium, auditorium/performing arts center, and cafeteria for the largest
district in Atlantic County.
Attendees
also had the opportunity to visit the
sports stadium complex while attending varsity and JV athletic events, and take
in the massive outdoor makeover that added an artificial turf field, new track,
expanded bleacher seating that tripled the seating capacity to 3,000 people, new
tennis courts and fields for the javelin throw, long jump and pole vault.
The Festival preceded the
district’s annual band competition which started at 6 pm and feature 17 high
school bands.
For more information about EHT
Pride Festival, please call (609) 646-8441 ext. 1017, or via email to [email protected].