Candid, Unexpected Pictures of Students Appearing on Daily Notice Webpage Explained
By Gilbert Tetteh ‘08
News Staff Reporter
If you are hanging out with a large crowd of people outside, be alerted that you might make the Daily Notice page.
Many students all over campus have been surprised to find pictures of themselves posted on the newly designed online Daily Notice – pictures they did not know were being taken. The photos began its display around last Parents’ Weekend when the campus was overflowing with visitors and have been a new addition to the online Daily Notice, which was going through a transformation itself.
Nevertheless, students should not be alarmed by the photos as they are not being tracked by satellites but by their own trusted faculty. The pictures are taken by an array of faculty and students, including Biology teacher Ian Morris, English teacher Gordon Armour, Ms. Elizabeth Cullen and Ms. Noreen Virgulto from the Communications Office, and the Photography Club.
The Communications Office is in charge for Choate’s outside relations, supervises the production of school materials, and manages the website. Students can submit pictures to the Communications Office to be displayed on the school website. The pictures are kept very current, to reflect the school at its present state.
While talking with those responsible for the Daily Notice, Ms. Cullen and Ms. Virgulto, it is apparent that the photographers scout places that have the greatest concentration of students, like the steps of the Library and Hill House. For shots that are more about the weather than about the kids, the pictures are taken from the porches of the Communications Office in Carrington House.
Other pictures that have been posted on the Daily Notice since last year’s Parents’ Weekend can now be viewed in the both the Student and Parent portals on the Choate website. “Students are really the important thing so reflecting them on the website is crucial,” said Ms. Cullen to explain the reasons for the photo galleries of students. The portals contain pictures of important events here at Choate such as Halloween, the Holiday Ball, and Deerfield Day.
According to the Communications Office, the pictures found their way to the Daily Notice because it was more interesting with snapshots of Choate students. The school also looks more alive to outsiders who view the website as the pictures are continuously cycled with recent ones. “The Daily Notice is 100 times better and interesting with the pictures of the students,” stated Ms. Cullen. Parents, especially those who are a good distance away from the school, like to see what is current at the school and these pictures are great visual aids to aid to showcase the scene, activities, and events on campus. A letter was sent home to parents by the Communications Office and since then, the photo gallery on the parents’ portal has become the one of the most visited part of the website.
Student reaction to the Daily Notice mystery pictures is positive. When asked about his picture making the Daily Notice, Derek Lubetkin ’08 said, “That’s cool. But it’s not as if I need the publicity.” Carlin Yuen ’06 quoted the great Muhammed Ali to describe his Halloween’s Day picture saying, “I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights.”
The Communications Office is selective of the pictures and will display the great moments captured so un-hood those hoods and smile for the camera next time you see the nice cameramen and camerawomen.
