Teachers at Hillsboro High School ushered in the 2012-2013 school year this week by singing and dancing in the halls and mugging for the camera to Carly Rae Jepsen’s song “Call Me Maybe.”

The results of their efforts can be viewed in a three minute, 16 second You Tube video at Hillsboro Renn Call Me MaybeH264.

High School science teachers Lauren Eatherton, 27, and Christina Leonhardt, 26, both of Herculaneum, came up with the idea for the video. Then the pair filmed, edited and produced it.

Eatherton said she and Leonhardt could hardly contain their amusement while working on the project.

“It was a blast. Christina and I laughed so hard,” Eatherton said. “It was so awesome to see the teachers getting involved and enjoying it and wanting to be in it.”

Eatherton said she and Leonhardt thought the video would be a novel way to help students relax a bit as they headed back to class Thursday (Aug. 16).

It was the highlight of the annual Renaissance Club welcome assembly, she said.

“This was part of welcoming the students back and helping their nerves to loosen up with something funny,” Eatherton said.

The Renaissance Club, which Eatherton and Leonhardt sponsor, promotes and recognizes academic achievement.

Eatherton said “Call Me Maybe” was the song of choice because it is extremely popular with students.

“We’re trying to let the kids know that even though we’re teachers, we can have fun and we are in touch with what they like,” Eatherton said.

Videotaped Monday and posted on YouTube on Thursday, the film features roughly 130 teachers, guidance counselors, principals and teacher’s assistants singing and dancing with props ranging from mustaches, hats and hoodies to sunglasses, bananas and pompoms.

It took six hours to make the film. Eatherton and Leonhardt shot 15 minutes of footage that they edited down over two evenings.

Eatherton said posting it on YouTube was the easiest way to share the film with those who wanted a copy.

As of Friday afternoon, the video had been viewed 665 times and had 28 “likes.”

– Clementine Carbery