York Town News
First day of school brings students back to reading, writing, arithmetic and more
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Eight-year-old Kayla Baker, pictured here, was all smiles as she began to unpack her supplies for the first day of school in Nancy Cook's classroom at Coastal Ridge Elementary School. The academic year began on Tuesday, Sept. 5, for all students in grades K through 9 at the York Schools. Students in grades 10 through 12 at York High School are scheduled to return to classes today, Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - While the official first day of fall may still be weeks away, those in the know around town would say the autumn season began on Tuesday, Sept. 5, as the majority of local students in grades K through 9 headed off to school.
The buses were out and about bright and early Tuesday morning as York Middle School students and York High School freshmen awaited the first day of the 2006-2007 academic year at bus stops across town.
Just about one hour later, it was time for the town's youngest students at Village and Coastal Ridge Elementary Schools to have their turn: some waiting with anticipation and excitement, some nervous and shy, some a combination of both.
In the hour after school began, through the halls at York Middle School and Coastal Ridge Elementary School, the overwhelming sense was one of happiness to be back - or, for fifth-grade students at York Middle School and those third-grade students at Coastal Ridge who were new to the school because they spent their second-grade year at Village - to be here for the first time.
And, of course, many students hinted at having a bit of anticipation about what this new year in a new school would bring.
At Village Elementary School, a summer's worth of hard work had transformed the building to house all of the town's second-grade students, who were previously split between the two elementary schools.
Prior to the opening of school, Principal Ruth Dealy praised the work of the school's facility staff for their commitment to seeing the school transformed, with what had once been two large classrooms now comfortably renovated into bright, blue spaces for one first-grade and three second-grade classes.
"It's going well," Dealy said of having all the town's primary grades under one roof. "We're spending the first day going through routines … just getting them acclimated. It's been very, very successful, very positive. They're smiling; they're excited."
And having the entire second grade together?
In a word, Dealy said, "It's wonderful."
Village was also the recipient of the generosity of York High School student Matt Wagner, Dealy noted in the weeks before school began. Throughout August, he could be seen hard at work with Boy Scout troops and friends assisting in his effort to get Village ready for the new school year as an Eagle Scout project.
At Coastal Ridge, Principal Jane Stephenson said the start of a new academic year without any younger students meant for a different kind of new beginning.
"We were remarking on how quiet it is," Stephenson said, adding there were very few tears shed as students returned to school - something much more typical when young ones are coming to school for the first time. "It's gone very smoothly."
While the first days are a time of acclimation, both Stephenson and School Counselor Kathy Welch are also focusing on the weeks ahead as a time to set the tone for the year: a tone of no bullying at Coastal Ridge.
"It's been a wonderful beginning. The kids are so excited to be here," Welch said Tuesday afternoon.
She noted that special events slated for the next three weeks will focus on keeping that enthusiasm and providing students with the tools to stop bullying when they see it happen - or even before it starts.
"We're setting the stage, just letting them know what the expectations are … that you treat people with respect," she said, with a school assembly on Thursday, Sept. 7, followed by a special opportunity on Sept. 13 when about 40 fourth-graders will be involved in a student leader project off campus at the Mount Agamenticus Lodge with training by representatives from the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence.
The focus, Welch explained, is on the impact of language as a key component of bullying and, ultimately, violence.
"On Sept. 18 through 20, all of the third-graders, in their classrooms, will have a bullying prevention workshop put on by the same organization, with the same philosophy of recognizing the impact of put-downs and insults, and addressing the impact of bullying," Welch said.
And, Stephenson added, Coastal Ridge will be expanding its Civil Rights Team, a group of student ambassadors that began last year.
Stephenson also encouraged parents to become a part of the school community.
"It is imperative that parents be involved as much as possible in their children's education at our school," she said, noting such opportunities as serving on the Parent Action Team, various committees or as volunteers, to "be a close partner in working together to meet the needs of the children. I just feel that is such a strong need, where we'll only be having these students here for two years."
At York Middle School, Principal Steve Bishop also had positive reports for the first day for students in grades 5 through 8.
"We had all the teachers out to greet the students," Bishop said Tuesday morning, adding the enthusiasm of new and returning teachers and students alike was undeniable.
Bishop confirmed that interviews are continuing for the alternative education and Horizons posts that currently remain open. Filling those positions has been a priority for the school, Bishop said.
"We're very confident that we'll have those positions filled soon," Bishop said.
He noted that both are important parts of serving the needs of all children and the School Department has been actively seeking the right person for each post.
"It's been a great day, a very positive first day opening," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione said after visiting all four schools throughout the day on Tuesday.
The day began with a breakfast for the freshmen class parents at York High School as their children embarked on the beginning of their high school career.
"That's a great way to start," Scipione said of the day devoted only to freshmen at York High School.
Throughout each school, Scipione said, the message was the same: that this was a very positive start to the school year.
While York High School freshmen began their new school year on Tuesday, the remainder of the school's students are slated to return to classes today, Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Meanwhile, this evening, the School Committee will hold its first meeting of the new academic year, highlighting such events as upcoming open houses at each of the town's four public schools and the status of staffing across the district.
The School Committee will meet at 7 p.m. at the York Public Library, and time for public comment is allotted during the meeting.
