Kathryn Palladino, a Cluster Chair for ELA, ELE and Social Studies at Greater Lowell, helped welcome freshmen at a drive-thru celebration last week. (Courtesy Photo Greater Lowell Tech) 
From left: Karen Washington, grade 10 and 11 Social Studies teacher; John Callahan, grade 9 Social Studies teacher; Jen Parkhurst, grade 9 Social Studies teacher; Mike Weitz, grade 10 and 11 Social Studies teacher; Brenna Morrison, grade 9 and 10 Social Studies teacher; Summer Witts, grade 9 ELA teacher; Elkin Montoya, ELE paraprofessional; Michael Beecher, grade 9 ELE teacher; Jillian Anno, Title I Reading paraprofessional; Kara Theall, Title I Reading Teacher; and Henry Yaffa, Title I Reading paraprofessional. (Courtesy Photo Greater Lowell Tech) 
Greater Lowell Tech’s technical teachers took part in a Freshman Welcome Day Drive-Thru last week. (Courtesy Photo Greater Lowell Tech)
TYNGSBOROUGH — Superintendent Jill Davis is pleased to share that Greater Lowell Tech welcomed the incoming freshman class with a Drive-Thru Celebration last week.
Students were assigned alphabetically to one of four times, each one hour and fifteen minutes long, to visit Greater Lowell Tech Thursday for the event.
“We are so excited to begin the school year with our new freshman class, and we wanted to show them a proper, warm, Gryphon strong welcome,” Superintendent Davis said. “A drive-thru celebration allowed us to do that safely. I want to extend a special thank you to the Assistant Superintendent Principal Michael Barton, Senior Assistant Principal Jamie Costa, Activities Coordinator Sharon Cornellier and all the administrators and teachers that volunteered. The pride in our academic and technical programs and what we do here for our students was very visible and amazing.”
Over the course of the day, approximately 450 students drove to the school with their parents or guardians. No in-person gathering was permitted on campus beyond established drive-thru stops run by faculty and staff. Vehicles were guided through a route on the Greater Lowell Tech campus, and families were asked to stay in their vehicles at all times. The school building remained closed during the event.
Students, parents and guardians were also required to wear a mask should they need to speak to staff, and all staff and volunteers wore masks as well.
During the event, students took their student ID photo, dropped off any medical documentation, received books and a school supply list from teachers, viewed exhibits from the district’s 23 technical programs and asked questions, picked up their Chromebooks, reviewed their schedule, met their school counselor and teachers, had an opportunity to sign-up for fall sports and virtual activities, and were given items including a class t-shirt, water bottle, two school logo masks, a school map and a “What all GLTHS Freshman Need to Know” guide booklet.
Today is the first day of school at Greater Lowell Tech. The district is following a hybrid learning plan this fall, during which each student will go to school in-person, one day a week, and will learn remotely the remaining four days of the week. Students will maintain six feet of distance from others in the building and will be required to wear a mask as well as wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer throughout the day. Mask breaks will be provided. To read the District’s full reopening plan, click here.
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