First day of school is Sept. 5
Published in the August 30, 2018 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Well kids, it’s time to hit books. It’s been a fabulously hot summer and hopefully everyone had ample opportunity to enjoy plenty of fun in the sun.
THE TOWN’S three elementary schools have welcomed nine new faculty and staff members for the 2018-19 school year. They are, seated from left: Kristina Petrie, school psychologist, Batchelder; Kathryn Polcari, fifth grade, Little; Kelly Costa, third grade, Hood; Jennifer Pedersen, first grade, Batchelder; standing, from left: Jessica Scioli, SPED, Batchelder; Brittany Joyce, SPED RISE program, Little; Alyson Powers, integrated pre-K, Little; Emily Barrett, first grade, Little; and Benjamin Pershouse, SPED, Batchelder. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
Now, in less than a week, the town’s students in grades 1-12 will return to school for the first day of classes on Wednesday, September 5. Kindergartners and pre-K students will attend orientation sessions on the first two days of school, September 5 and 6, and start their first day of school on Friday, September 7.
In keeping with tradition, this week’s edition of the Transcript contains complete information regarding bus routes and the bus pass rules as well as a welcome back message from Superintendent of Schools Jon Bernard and a safety message from Police Chief Michael Murphy.
This year, the Hood and Little Schools will be the “early” elementary schools, with classes starting at 8:30 a.m. and being dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The Batchelder School will be the “late” elementary school, with classes running from 8:55 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
FOURTEEN NEW FACULTY members and staff were hired for positions at the High School and Middle School for 2018–19. Attending the district’s orientation on Tuesday were (seated, from left): Madeline Lund, SPED, NRHS; Tracy Nicholas, nurse, NRHS; Katie Bray, English, NRMS; Jessica Murdock, English, NRMS; and Heather Maiola, math, NRMS; (standing, from left): James Sgroi, digital learning specialist, NRHS; Matthew Sucharski, math, NRHS; Robert Bryant, business ed, NRHS; Ben Owens, music, NRHS; Thomas Ledoux Jr., physics, NRHS; Justin Reddington, technology/engineering, NRHS; Kaitlin O’Donnell, school psychologist, NRHS; Tristan Irish, physical education, NRMS; and Camille Curtis, SPED, NRHS. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
Classes at the Middle School run from 7:55 a.m. to 2:21 p.m while High School classes begin at 7:30 a.m. and run to 2 p.m.
Half-day kindergarten classes at the Hood and Little run from 8:30 to 11:10 a.m. for the morning session and 12:05 to 2:45 p.m. for the afternoon session while at the Batchelder, half-day kindergarten classes run from 8:55 to 11:35 a.m. for the morning session and 12:30 to 3:10 p.m. for the afternoon session.
Half-day pre-K sessions run from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m. or 12 to 3 p.m.; full-day pre-K is held from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. No pre-K sessions are held on early release days.
The early release day times are as follows: High School – 11 a.m.; Middle School – 11:21 a.m.; Hood and Little – 11:45 a.m.; Batchelder – 12:10 p.m.
Parent Night at all three elementary schools will be Thursday, September 13. Back-to-School Night at the High School is Thursday, September 20. The Middle School Back-to-School Night for grades 6-8 will be Thursday, September 27.
The last day of school for the 2018–19 year on June 25 may seem like a long way off but just thinking about the fact that this date includes five built-in snow days can make one feel a bit cooler considering this week’s heat index has made temperatures feel as if it is 100 degrees.
