Higashi's Unsung Heroes

BEHIND THE SCENES

According to Dave Ferris, Director of Facilities, there is no other place like this – the complications, the uniqueness and the daily challenges brought on by trying to blend the old with the new, bring an excitement and a fascination to his job. To Dave “Higashi is like a giant jigsaw puzzle” one that he and his team of 13 work on every day - where some days the pieces fit together nicely, but in the end, they know the puzzle will never be complete and that makes for a compelling challenge.

Dave is extremely proud of his team, loves the diversity they bring to the job and would not trade them for the world. Maintaining 55 acres, 5 buildings adding up to over 170,000 square feet and a swimming pool complex unlike any other, makes for an enormous amount of work. According to Dave, teamwork is the key, his crew works well together, is always willing to help each other out and always willing to go that extra mile on behalf of our students.

There are not enough words that speak to the enormity and scale of the work performed by this special group. The facilities are always immaculate, new projects and renovations are constant and there is a “to do” list a mile long, but the Maintenance Team would have it no other way. Our hats are off to this selfless, hardworking and compassionate group.

“HIGASHI IS LIKE A GIANT JIGSAW PUZLE”

“OVER 3,OOO MEALS SERVED EACH WEEK”

“No Days Off” was the chant Coach Bill Belchick shouted after the Patriots won the 2017 Super Bowl when in reality it should be the chant of our own Coach Bill Burke, Director of Food Services.

For it is Bill and his staff of 22 (17 full time), who are here every single day of the year, including Christmas and Thanksgiving when Bill and his staff go way above and beyond to create special holiday meals for our students, staff and families. While most of us are at home relaxing and dining with our own families, the Food Service Staff sacrifice time with their own to make the holidays special for our students and their families.

Bill and his team prepare and serve over 3,000 meals a week, 1,500 snacks and a host of special diets that are 72 pages long in their description. This past Thanksgiving the team served 180 meals to students and their families and on Christmas Day another 150 more. Nobody works harder, and there is no group more eager to please, extend a helping hand and do whatever they can to make life easier for our students and their families.

When asked what keeps her going, Odette (who has been working at the school for the past 20 years) responded quickly and simply,

“the kids”. We salute the Food Service Staff for their undeniable dedication to our students and their families and for being our

Patriots and never taking a day off.