Students walk on the red carpet on the first day of school while welcomed by applause and music from administrators and the OCHS band. (Photo courtesy of Ocean City school district)
More than 1,100 students made their way across a vibrant red carpet into Ocean City High School to celebrate the building’s 20th anniversary.
School district officials are planning an array of celebratory events this fall to honor the major milestone.
The red-carpet treatment for students coincided with the first day of school Sept. 3.
Students and OCHS alumni can participate in an open house and 20th anniversary celebration on Oct. 18 and 19 to go along with Red & White Weekend and other homecoming festivities.
The open house will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., prior to the homecoming football game on Friday, Oct. 18. The homecoming dance will be held Saturday evening.
“In the past 20 years, we’ve been able to accomplish so much at OCHS,” Wendy O’Neal, the high school principal, said in a news release. “This building has provided our students with countless opportunities, whether they be technological advancements, one-on-one attention, or real-world learning abilities. This building has given us a space for continuous growth.”
OCHS’s current building was approved to be built in 2001 and was constructed in time for the 2004-2005 school year. The facility replaced the older building, which stood across the street since 1927. The arch to enter the original building still stands in front of the parking lot as a tribute to the city’s rich history.
“I’m grateful to be starting my journey here at Ocean City during such a milestone celebration,” newly appointed School Superintendent Christian Angelillo said in the release. “Welcoming the students back with such enthusiasm and excitement really complements our overall goal for the 2024-2025 school year. Not only are we reflecting on the past 20 years of success, we’re also looking forward to the next 20.”
The new construction allowed OCHS to begin offering students dedicated areas for extracurricular activities such as a television studio for weekly broadcasts.
Athletic amenities also improved, including additional gym space and the expansion of sports offerings such as girls volleyball, boys lacrosse, flag football, boys and girls crew, and diving teams.
In addition, the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center offers a state-of-the-art venue to highlight the district’s fine and performing art programs, the Drama Guild, as well as band and choir concerts.
For more information on OCHS’s 20th anniversary celebrations or OCSD, visit ocsdnj.org.
