Last-minute revisions, practicing precise articulation and enunciation, excitement, minute nervous pacing, laughter, and the uncommon usage of the word “thumbological” all go into the Carlisle High School morning announcements. 

CHS senior James Echevarria and junior Olivia Renault devote their time and energy every morning to delivering announcements to the CHS student body.

Each morning, immediately after entering the Fowler Administration Office, Renault and Echevarria grab their designated scripts, decorated with brightly highlighted scribbles that indicate changes in words and phrases and begin reading. 

Priscilla Perdue, the Fowler Administration Office secretary, works with the morning announcers in the process of making sure the morning announcements run smoothly each day. 

“I honestly feel like I am kinda just the backup,” Perdue said, explaining her role in the daily morning routine.   “Mr. Hewlett is in charge of our students, which this year is Olivia and James. He and I both receive emails throughout the morning [and] afternoon, and [the staff members] just email us information of what they want us to put out to the announcements. Sometimes you have to clean them up so that it reads better and we make sure the kids have that.”  

Echevarria said that Perdue is responsible for receiving the messages the students read off each day.

“In the morning we are given announcements that are sent to Mrs. Perdue and distribute them as evenly as possible,” Echevarria described the morning routine. “Then we read the announcements to get a feel for them, then we wait for Herd Tv finish then we start.” 

According to Echevarria, he was selected for the job from a simplified list made by previous announcers. The list was compiled of students who were viewed as more than able to take on the responsibility of being a morning announcer.

“We always look in the springtime for anyone that is interested in doing it, “ said Perdue.  “They have to be good kids, no discipline issues, [get] good grades, and have good behavior in school. They should hold themselves with integrity. So we do try to narrow it down to good grades and attendance.”

While being such a prominent voice heard every Monday through Friday, surprisingly the students’ notoriety does not increase as much as expected. 

“ A lot of people don’t realize that it is me,” said  Renault.  “My last name isn’t heard instead; it is just my first name and there are like six other Olivias at this school. It is kind of funny sometimes when students recognize me that wouldn’t know me otherwise.”