With its three floors and nearly 1400 students, NASH is no small place. At any given time in the day, it can be hard to determine how the school remains orderly. Upon closer inspection, however, the answer can be found in NASH’s main office.

The main office is located on the first floor in the lobby of the school, where students tend to wander past, not knowing exactly what goes on in there. Everyone knows that the main office is where the principals are headquartered, but the backbone of NASH consists of the five secretaries who work alongside them.

The secretaries put countless hours into all facets of how the school runs, and it is safe to say that without our secretaries, NASH would be nowhere as successful as it is with them. They each have their own role in the office, and here is a glimpse of what their daily lives look like.

When a student enters the main office, they will most likely first notice Ms. Diulus, who is considered the switchboard secretary. This means that every time someone calls NASH, the line is directed to her, and with the number of students NASH has, that is not an easy task.

“My morning here at NASH begins around 6:00 AM,” Diulus said. “I start by welcoming subs for the day and making sure that all of the classes are covered in case we have teachers out of the building. I answer phone calls and assist students with any questions they may have.”

Particularly when students want to apply for a job, Diulus is one of their first stops to make it possible.

“I also issue work permits,” she said, “so if you are looking for a summer job, make sure you get your permit.”

This year, more NASH students are frequenting the main office due to the weekly NASH Ready ticket drawing. The ticket deposit boxes are within Diulus’s view, so she feels compelled to share a a secret. 

“Students may not know that NASH Ready tickets can also be redeemed for candy,” she said. “Ask if you would like some!”

Sitting in the same area as Ms. Diulus is Ms. Fenton, who manages the financial transactions pertaining to the school. 

“I keep the financial records for the student clubs and assist the club sponsors with ordering supplies and paying invoices,” Ms. Fenton said. “I also assist teachers with ordering their class supplies and creating POs so that their orders can be paid by the business office.”

Organization is no easy feat for secretaries. Maintaining an orderly schedule and maintenance while assisting students and staff takes time. 

“The most challenging part is staying organized,” Fenton said. “Some days, I have several teachers needing orders placed, dropping off deposits, and needing bills paid, so I have to make sure I stay on top of it.”

Another aspect of being a school secretary that some may not realize is that, while students and most teachers get off for the summer, the work never ends for secretaries.

“I do work in the summer, and it is very slow,” Fenton said. “It is strange the first week or so being in the building with no students. Very quiet.”

Across the way from Diulus and Fenton resides a woman whom NASH students tend to visit most—the attendance secretary, Ms. Wentz.

“My day in the office starts at 6:00 AM. Once the bell rings, I check in late students and update their attendance,” Wentz said. “Around 10:30, I submit an attendance report that gets sent out to all staff. From that time on, I answer parent phone calls and keep up on my emails. After my 1:00 report goes out, I start cleaning up from the day and preparing for the next.”

Fairly new to NASH, Wentz has noticed that there are certain times of year when managing student attendance can be a daunting task

“While I haven’t worked here long, I’d say Christmas was a very busy time,” she said. “I also think the end of the year will be a very busy time because everyone is running out of steam!”

Of all the tardy notes that have been handed over to Wentz, a few have stood out from the other this year.

Further into the main office, students meet the principals’ secretaries, Ms. Leech and Ms. Foglio.

Leech assists NASH’s Assistant Principals.

“My typical day consists of providing support to Mr. Miller and Mr. Murray as well as our School Police Officer when needed,” she said.

Specifically, Leech said a lot her time on the job focuses on “student discipline, student parking matters, attendance letters, arranging Animal Friends for their visits, and supporting DECA and HOSA.”

Leech began her position as the assistant principal secretary eight years ago and has noticed changes especially in the past couple of years.

“The changes I’ve witnessed in the main office are largely driven by staff retiring and the arrival of new administrators,” Ms. Leech said, “Also, there was a major change in the Student Information System from Tyler SIS to Powerschool.”

Next to Ms. Leech sits Ms. Foglio, the principal’s secretary.

Foglio originally started in the school district as a Special Ed Assistant at McKnight Elementary. She eventually found her way to NASH–and she has no complaints.

“I am very blessed to be Mr. Buchak’s secretary,” Foglio said. “I assist with Mr. Buchak’s schedule, and am responsible for organizing field trip information, staff conference information, club/activity fundraising information, and the weekly parent/student Newsflash and staff Week at a Glance communication.”

While she helps Mr. Buchak, Foglio also has a special focus on seniors and their preparations for graduation. 

“I gather the information to order diplomas, caps, gowns, tassels, as well as the stage and chairs for the field for graduation,” she said. “I also gather the information for the commencement program and other senior communications, which I then send to the seniors, including their families.” 

When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Foglio’s answer revolves around what makes NASH such a special place.

“The most rewarding part of my job is the daily interactions with the students and staff at NASH and graduation evening each year,” she said. “Experiencing the joy and excitement of the senior class and their families as they end one chapter of their lives and embark on their next amazing adventure.”