Currents in Education: Back to School
First Day
By York Superintendent of Schools Henry R. Scipione, Ed.D
Henry R. Scipione, Ed.D
Today our children feel the same about the start of school. It serves us well to remember how we felt so we can understand and help our children deal with the start of a new school year. The quiet ones may find it hard to express how they are feeling, but as parents we know our children well and we know how they react to change. Our reaction to them will help send the right message. Being positive and showing our excitement is important.
As parents we anxiously await the report of the first day. How did it go? We are on edge until we hear, "It was great! My teacher is awesome! I saw all my friends." We hold onto those words because it tells us that we are off to a good start. Our concern is that we want our children to be happy. We want them to be excited and to look forward to going to school.
How does the York Schools staff prepare for a great first day and a great year? We need to recognize that our schools are not the same in September as they were in June. Some of the changes are evident, such as those in classroom design at Village Elementary to accommodate all second grade students, or the paving of the roadway and parking at Coastal Ridge and the High School, or the cleaning and maintenance of all our schools, VES, CRES, YMS and YHS, all evidence of hard work over the summer weeks.
Some of the changes are less evident. The courses or workshops our teachers have taken, the curriculum work, the planning of units and projects and the work in their classrooms to be ready for September. Principals and other administrators have been extremely busy over the summer. They have been hiring the best possible new staff, overseeing the summer work in each building, engaging in their own professional development in curriculum and instruction, participating in strategic planning - not only for the coming year but for the years ahead. Their summer weeks have gone by quickly and, as the start of school approaches, they are 'on the job' getting ready for the arrival of our students in September.
The mission of the York Schools is to educate, inspire and challenge all learners to be ethical citizens who will make a difference in a changing and complex world. This work begins on the first day of school. Our staff is focused on this mission and we strive to achieve it by providing a positive and challenging learning experience for all students. Achieving this mission comes from hard work and commitment. We will continue to direct our energies and resources toward achieving the mission of the York Schools. From the first day of school, this will be our goal.
The York Schools are ready. We all look forward to the first day with excitement and enthusiasm. Send your children to us with the comfort of knowing that we will work hard to make their experiences positive from the very first day.
