Schools reopen for year Aug. 29

Published in the August 22, 2018 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Time is winding down as summer vacation ends and a new school year begins on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Students in grades 1-12 will be returning to the classroom on Aug. 29 and the first day of school for preschool and kindergarten students is Friday, Aug. 31. School officials, teachers and staff members having been spending the last days of summer making sure everything is ready to rock and roll for students’ return next week.

“We are very excited about the new school year,” said Superintendent Jane Tremblay. “It has been a very busy time in the Central Office during the summer, as we hired the new director of Student Services and have been getting ready for the school year. We are excited to welcome new preschoolers and new kindergarteners, and all of our returning students. We are very optimistic that it’s going to be a great year for Lynnfield Public Schools. We are very excited about what is to come when we open our doors next week.”

School administrators have spent the final days of summer setting their agendas and teachers are working to get their classrooms ready for the 2018-2019 school year. Additionally, custodians are making a final push to make sure each of the town’s four schools is in pristine condition when students return.

School schedule

Hours for the school year are as follows:

Lynnfield Middle School: 7:40 a.m.-2 p.m.

Lynnfield High School: 7:50 a.m.-2:26 p.m.

Huckleberry Hill School: 8:20 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Summer Street School: 8:50 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Preschool a.m. session: 8 a.m.-11 a.m.

Preschool p.m. session: 11:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

School initiatives

The School Department will begin a new era this year, as two new administrators will be welcomed to the district.

Dr. Karen Dwyer is beginning her first year as Summer Street School’s principal. Dwyer succeeds former Interim Principal Greg Hurray, who led Summer Street for a year-and-a-half.

The School Department is also welcoming new Student Services Director Roberta Keane to the fold. Keane, who served as Bedford, New Hampshire’s assistant special education director for the past three years, will succeed current Student Services Director Kara Mauro. In addition to working in Bedford, N.H., Keane previously worked in Lexington.

“We are really excited about the two new additions to our administrative leadership team,” said Tremblay. “I think they are a perfect match for us, our students and their families.”

Tremblay noted both Dwyer and Keane will be developing entry plans, which will be presented to the School Committee this fall. She said the two new administrators will be presenting the results of their entry plans to the school board next spring.

In addition to the two new administrators, the school system is welcoming 11 new teachers. Additionally, former Summer Street music teacher Harry Wagg has succeeded Tom Westmoreland as Lynnfield High School’s new band director.

“We are 100 percent hired,” said Tremblay.

Tremblay said the School Department will be continuing its collaborative efforts with the town’s substance abuse coalition, A Healthy Lynnfield, this year.

“We look forward to continuing that strong partnership with them to not only serve the community but our students as well,” said Tremblay.

The School Department will be continuing its tradition of hosting guest speakers this year. Tremblay said school officials are looking forward to welcoming guest speaker Lynn Lyons this fall.

“(Lyons) will talk to our parents and faculty about anxiety in children,” said Tremblay. “She is a well-known speaker on the North Shore and I am hoping the auditorium will be packed on the night she speaks to parents.”

Tremblay said the School Department is looking to have additional guest speakers as well.

The School Department will be continuing its security initiatives this year.

Tremblay said the School Department’s social-emotional learning initiatives will be a major focus area this year.

“Social-emotional learning is our number one concern across the board,” said Tremblay. “That will be a focus in all of the school improvement plans.”

Additionally, the School Department will be implementing the third year of the Understanding by Design curriculum initiative this year.

“We will be working on curriculum, lesson planning and development,” said Tremblay.

Tremblay said school officials are working to develop a Lynnfield Public Schools Facebook page as well.

“We are always looking for ways to broaden our communication to parents and the community,” said Tremblay. “A lot of people use Facebook to get information in 2018, and we are exploring the possibility of developing a Lynnfield Pubic Schools Facebook page.”

Tremblay said the School Committee is tentatively scheduled to discuss the Facebook page proposal at its Aug. 28 meeting.

Elementary school initiatives

Huckleberry Hill School will continue building on its social-emotional learning program, Second Step, this year. The elementary school implemented the program two years ago.

According to Huckleberry Hill’s improvement plan for the 2018-2019 school year, the elementary school will be continuing to “work together to refine, enhance and share strategies to infuse social-emotional learning into the curriculum and culture of Huckleberry Hill School.” The goal of the initiative is to “support the social and emotional well-being of all students.”

As part of the goal, Huckleberry Hill will be holding grade level “mix ups” in order to give students the opportunity to meet and collaborate with peers outside of their classrooms. School assemblies pertaining to social-emotional learning will be held each month.

Summer Street School will be focusing on social-emotional learning as well. According to Summer Street School’s improvement plan, the elementary school “will develop and begin to implement a social and emotional learning program to enhance students’ social and emotional well-being.”

“The goal is to provide (Summer Street) students with the knowledge, skills and language to navigate challenging social situations, understand and manage personal wellness and demonstrate respect and care for others,” reads the goal.

Additionally, the two elementary schools will be expanding the use of personalized learning. According to the goal, “personalized learning is an approach that uses such factors as the learner’s own passions, strengths, needs, family, culture and community as fuel for the development of knowledge, skills and dispositions.” The goal seeks to increase student initiative and engagement by “emphasizing differentiated instruction and personalized learning.”

LMS initiatives

Similar to the elementary schools, Lynnfield Middle School will be looking to expand social-emotional learning into the curriculum.

According to LMS’ improvement plan, the middle school will “build a framework that provides for social-emotional learning.”

“This framework will foster the delivery of strategies and support for students across grades 5-8,” reads the goal. “Throughout middle school, challenges may stem from within the classroom as subject material becomes more complex and/or from social interactions as friendships and peer relationships evolve. The goal is to recognize these challenges, and develop and implement supports and strategies for students and faculty.”

Additionally, the middle school will be developing activities and structures to advance the new LMS core values: Kindness, effort and citizenship.

“This multi-step process will include identifying existing activities/structures, and creating new activities/structures to advance kindness, effort and citizenship,” reads the goal.

LHS initiatives

Lynnfield High School will be expanding project-based learning during the 2018-2019 school year.

According to the high school’s improvement plan, LHS will be working “collaboratively to develop a more student-centered approach to learning” by expanding project-based learning opportunities.

“As a result, students will assume more ownership of their learning while increasing student achievement,” reads the goal.

The high school will be incorporating more social-emotional learning initiatives as well. According to the improvement plan, teachers, administrators and support staff will be integrating “more mindfulness opportunities throughout the school day.” High school officials will also be looking to raise awareness about anxiety and depression to parents and community members.