When it comes to game changers, look no further than Dawn Carofine (left) and Brittany Gaccione. The CHS alums are senior class advisors who remain committed to the school and the city that gave them their starts. “They continually attempt to boost school spirit and spread the importance of community involvement,” said Vikki Rogers, CHS’ vice principal (central). As senior class advisors, the pair are involved with fundraising, homecoming, senior prom, and graduation. However, their involvement does not end there. Gaccione (CHS ’07) runs the student council and is the head gymnastics coach, and Carofine (CHS ’01) runs the school climate club. “They are genuine assets to our building and to the city of Clifton,” Rogers added. Proud of their roots When Gaccione walked the halls at CHS, school spirit felt different than what she sees amongst students today. “I feel like when I was in high school, my friends and I and others were so inclined to go to hockey games and football games as a group and make a night of it,” said Gaccione, 31. “I feel like that doesn’t really carry through.” Since returning to CHS and becoming a senior class advisor, one way she said they have tried to boost engagement over the last few years is pushing student-faculty sporting events. Signing up students to participate
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June 2020 • Cliftonmagazine.com
is a challenge, though, and one perhaps linked in part to students having part-time jobs or other conflicts on the weekend. Despite a noticeable generational difference, CHS and the city’s community is still a source of pride and the reason Gaccione has made the city her home as an adult. She lives in the city with her fiancé Pat Errico (CHS ’06), and the couple hopes to move to the Montclair Heights section. It was also always her first choice for where she wanted to work. After graduating with an English and education degree from Montclair State University, she credited CHS’ former English supervisor Dr. Christopher De Vinck for her first jobs. At that time, he was also the professor of her methods course. “He inspired me,” said Gaccione, “and when I heard from him that they were looking for maternity leave replacements, it’s the first place I applied and … he hired me.” She started at CHS in a maternity leave position in March 2013 and then was hired in September as an 11th grade language arts teacher. Today, she enjoys teaching 10th grade language arts, but also finds her work outside of the classroom rewarding. “I think my favorite part is being involved and feeling like I’m making a difference,” she said. “When