By CONNIE NOLEN / Community Columnist

“We have a phone that we can call out on, but we can’t get incoming calls yet,” said Marylou Russell when she hung up the new desktop telephone receiver as I walked into the office at Pelham High School.
Constant contact has become a societal norm. Unable to maintain that constant contact over the last few weeks, the Pelham community has experienced painful separation anxiety. Without school email, teacher thumbs have gotten a real workout as we’ve texted pertinent information to one another. While social networking and teacher texts have proven very useful, students have been even more in the dark. Fortunately, reconnection is just around the corner as the cyber-illumination of Pelham City Schools has begun.
In fact, as of today, Pelham High School has a phone number. Pelham High School’s new phone number is 624-3701. And many teachers are live. According to Derrick Waddell, “Teacher emails are ready to go.”
All Pelham City Schools’ teachers should check at their schools if they have not received email activation information. Pelham City Schools’ emails consist of first initials and last names followed by @pelhamcityschools.org.
With emails live and iNOW up, school personnel are working furiously to get student schedules printed as registration approaches on July 22 and 24. Specific registration times and dates are up on Pelham City School’s website.
Freshmen can sign up for Camp Pelham at registration on July 24. Camp Pelham will take place on Aug. 1 from 8 a.m. until noon. The day culminates with lunch in the cafeteria and a pep rally to get our newest Pelham Panthers ready for the fun this fall.
Students will receive a Camp Pelham T-shirt and meet with teachers and student leaders to learn about the challenges and opportunities that await them at PHS. While the academics of high school are rigorous, the possibilities for involvement, new experiences and friendships are limitless. Attending Camp Pelham helps students discover the extracurricular activities of high school and plan for the healthy balance necessary to achieve their very best high school experience.
PHS eagerly prepares for its students.