RESERVE — Approximately 40 volunteers worked from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday to ensure a clean and positive environment awaits East St. John High School students returning to school this week.

Coordinated by the East St. John Alumni Association, the second ESJ Cleanup event was a day of teamwork and friendly interactions between volunteers, according to organizer Autry Alexis II.

By the end of the day, benches and guardrails around the Freshman Building had a new coat of paint. The front walkway was pressure washed, and gum was removed from the walkway entrance.

The front/walkway of the Vocational and Industrial Building and the Southside façade and windows of the 400 Building were also pressure washed.

Fresh paint was applied to exterior and interior doors of the gym and the main building.

As some volunteers cleaned and painted the benches in the main breezeway, others worked to move desks, tables, shelves, filing cabinets and other classroom materials from the main building to the freshman building and vice versa.

Volunteers included Interim Superintendent Heidi Trosclair, ESJ assistant principals Beatrice Crosby and Deshanna Baptiste, Athletic Director Brandon Brown and football players, the volleyball team, band members, special education teacher Melissa Robinson, ESJ Alumni co-chair Demetria Robinson Carter, school board member Ali Burl, Parish Council members Michael Wright, Larry Sorapuru, Jaclyn Hotard Gaudet and Lennix Madere, and St. John Parish political candidates Clarence Gray (running for sheriff), Tammy Houston (running for Council District 3) and Morgan Lee (running for Council District 5).

District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut supported the event with a financial contribution, according to Alexis.