TOMS RIVER, NJ – The rallying cry in Toms River through good times and bad has been “We Are TR”. Now, thanks to Toms River High School South sophomore Jack Harjes, the rallying cry is now a song.
According to the Toms River School District, it all started when Toms River High School South teacher Katlyn McBride assigned her students a fun and simple project, share your interests, characteristics, or what you’re proud of through performative art, whether that be a video, poem, short story, or essay.
“The goal,” McBride said, “was to make them feel more connected to each other and to the building.”
“HSS sophomore Jack Harjes– whom HSS Principal Mike Citta describes as “talented” and “all heart”– took the idea and ran with it. Or, more accurately, sang with it,” the district said in an online press release. “Harjes created a song dedicated to his school and to Toms River. It’s poignant, funny, relevant, and just plain fun.
Of Harjes’ project, McBride said, “I thought it was really special.”