By Kate Anslinger
As the summer months come to a close, the community is gearing up for a new school year. Back-to-school shopping is in full effect, teachers and students have their orientations scheduled and parents are getting back into the hustle and bustle involved in school activities, homework, and drop-off and pick-up times.
Each and every new school year comes with changes, and this year is no exception. This will be the first year that the elementary school students will be in the classroom for an extended amount of time. The kindergarten day will run from 7:40 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.
The 21st Century program will be offered at the middle school in addition to the elementary schools. The purpose of the program is to provide creative and innovative time outside of school that supports and enhances academic and youth development.
For those who take the bus, the fee has gone up to from $150 to $175.
As far as food goes, there will be a couple of new offerings. The high school/middle school cafeterias will have a pizza station that provides 5-inch personalized pizzas and personalized calzones.
While the nutritional requirements are still the same, Food Service Director, Ian Kay says that they will add more fruits and veggies. Baked fish will be another option added to the menu. Salmon burgers, baked red-snapper fish and chips, which will also come in a coconut-crusted version.
“We always stress for nutrition,†said Kay. “We want kids to eat healthy, and we are promoting leaner foods. “
The produce offered at the school comes from local farmers and is grown locally.
Kay said that food-service workers are starting to get things prepped and deliveries are starting to arrive.
Getting used to the school year traffic patterns is always an adjustment. In an attempt to ease traffic at the Gorman Fort Banks School, a line was added and one was moved in the loop. The far right lane of the loop is for moving vehicles only and parking will not be permitted there. The middle lane is for those who want to access the additional parking near the cemetery. The third line is an outbound lane for those exiting the school property.
“Every year we try to improve the circulation and flow of the traffic,†said Chief Terrence Delehanty, who is also on a mission to promote safety for students walking and cycling to and from school. Walkers should always stay on the sidewalk, and when there is no sidewalk, hug the side of the road and face oncoming traffic so you are aware of moving vehicles approaching.
The Fort Banks School will open its doors to 43 preschool students, 140 kindergartners, 148 first-graders, and 139 second-graders.
The Arthur T. Cummings School has added three new teachers, which will bring class sizes down, allowing for more student attention.
“This is a huge victory for Winthrop students,†said Principal Ryan Heraty.
The school will see 149 third-graders, 156 fourth-graders and 149 fifth-graders walk through its doors on the first day of school, scheduled for Sept. 5.
The first year went smoothly and teachers are eager to get back into the new building for another successful year. The middle-school will have 158 sixth-graders, 143 seventh-graders and 158 eighth-graders.