While students rush to their first period of the day, the high school main office is already humming with the intensity of a command center. Tasked with managing daily life at Haldane, Janine Junjulas and Christi DeRosa serve as the essential bridge between the student body and the administration.
DeRosa, who joined the Haldane Staff in 2015, described the daily environment of the office as “chaotic but in a good way,” as her mornings involve a rapid fire checklist to ensure the school day launches in a successful manner. “We have to make sure the announcements are running,” she said, emphasizing that the office is a key part of school wide communication. For Junjulas, the partnership is what makes the pace manageable: “I’d be lost without [DeRosa],” she said.
Both Junjulas’ and DeRosa’s careers have been rooted in the Haldane community. Junjulas, a Haldane graduate, noted that her return to the district felt “surreal.” She explained that when Julia Sniffen asked her to be a High School Attendance Aide, it felt like the “greatest move ever” and said that “it all just flowed smoothly.” DeRosa had a similar lifelong connection to the school— her mother, Maureen DeRosa, worked in the district until retiring in 2010. “I knew right away,” DeRosa said regarding her career choice, adding that her affinity for the students is what truly drives her. “The love I have for high schoolers is so much greater [than the elementary],” she said.
Junjulas, who started in September of 2016, explained that much of the pair’s work happens behind the scenes to support the rest of the staff. “We have to make sure Mrs. Sniffen, Mrs. Cotchen, and Mrs. Heintzman’s schedules are all ready to go for the day,” she said.
Despite the heavy work load, both said that the human element of the job is what keeps them coming back. “Seeing your little faces in ninth grade and seeing you all grow up is the rewarding part,” Junjulas said. She commented that graduation remains one of her favorite times of the year, describing it as “one of the most special days” students have at Haldane. DeRosa echoed this sentiment, saying that watching the transition from freshmen to seniors is a highlight: “the college process is my favorite.”
However, maintaining a smooth operation requires student cooperation. When asked how the student body could make the office run more efficiently, DeRosa had a simple request: “Check your emails.”
Both faculty members agreed that they prioritize building relationships with the student body. Staying updated through the digital correspondence ensures that the office runs efficiently and prevents DeRosa or Junjulas from having to locate students individually. DeRosa also said that when students take up the morning announcements and ensure they show up each day, that makes the daily workflow easier.
Even though Janine Junjulas and Christi DeRosa carry the stressful task of making sure the school day goes by smoothly, it doesn’t hinder their love and support for Haldane! DeRosa concluded with “Let’s go, Blue Devils!”
