Selected students, staff and volunteers assembled at Gloucester High School Monday to prepare for the beginning stages of the GHS renovation project, which began Tuesday.

While most students were participating in a virtual learning day through Zoom, NJROTC students were hard at work moving desks, lockers and supplies from a portion of ‘A’ Hall classrooms and the counseling office to trailers in the lot adjacent to the tennis courts and baseball field.

In addition to moving classrooms and counseling to the modulars, the main office was temporarily displaced to the former guidance office. The old main office will be part of the extended learning area.

“This is the beginning,” said GHS assistant principal Jodie Simpson.

The new counseling office will be connected to the new front office, which will be connected to a new security vestibule.

“I was a little nervous, but it’s been smooth sailing,” said school principal Dr. Stefan Mygas, speaking of the process of shuffling offices and classrooms around.

Portable toilets are available for student and staff use outside where the modular units are located until GHS receives its bathroom trailer.

There is perimeter fencing enclosing the trailers to make the temporary classrooms and offices more secure. The fencing can be locked so the area stays secure, especially at night and on weekends.

The parent loop has also been displaced to the bus loop. Parents need to now turn into the school through the entrance closest to Short Lane to drop off or pick up their student. The bus loop has been moved to the parent loop.

Students are now required to enter the building through the main entrance near the library.

Simpson said she was grateful for the students, teachers, custodial team, maintenance personnel, operations staff, the technology department and volunteers who made moving classrooms and offices possible.

“Everyone has chipped in today,” said Simpson.