Published in the August 26, 2015 edition
SUMMER slides away. Phoenix Billings scrambles up the twisty slide at the Summer Street School. Summer vacation is rapidly sliding into the past as the town’s students prepare to return to the classroom next Tuesday. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Despite the wishes of local children and adolescents, there are only six days remaining until summer vacation comes to a close and a new school year begins.
With the 2015-2016 school year for students in grades one to 12 set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and the first day for preschool and kindergarten students beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 2, school officials, teachers and staff members are working diligently to make sure everything is ready to rock and roll when students return to the classroom. School administrators have spent the final days of summer setting their agendas and teachers have been working to get their classrooms ready for students’ return.
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes,” Superintendent of Schools Jane Tremblay said at last week’s School Committee meeting.
Additionally, custodians are making a final push to make sure each of the town’s four schools is in pristine condition when students return.
“The buildings are coming along,” said Tremblay. “The DPW does a phenomenal job and we will be ready when students come in our front doors.”
School schedule
School hours for the school year are as follows:
Lynnfield Middle School: 7:40 a.m.-2 p.m.
LAUREN LANE proudly displays two pieces of artwork from the sketchbook she created during the Monet Camp she attended at SOFA Camp, sponsored by Lynnfield Community Schools and held at LHS. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
Lynnfield High School: 7:50 a.m.-2:26 p.m.
Huckleberry Hill School: 8:50 a.m.-3 p.m.
Summer Street School: 8:20 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Preschool morning session: 8-11 a.m.
Preschool afternoon session: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
New hires
Tremblay said the school department has hired 11 new faculty members this summer. She said there were some “unexpected resignations at the beginning of August,” but she anticipated the school system would be fully staffed before the school bell rings on Sept. 1.
“We are excited about the 11 new teachers joining us,” said Tremblay.
The school system hired one new preschool teacher this summer, Amanda Cincotta. Emma Keilty is a new special education teacher at Summer Street School, while Jennifer Moore will serve as long-term substitute teacher for Summer Street first grade teacher Tara LaGreca. Lynn McCumber is the new third grade teacher at Huckleberry Hill School, while Katie Souza is a long-term substitute teacher for Huckleberry Hill fourth grade teacher Katie Puopolo.
There are three new faculty members at Lynnfield Middle School. Erin Clasby is a new adjustment counselor at LMS. Kelsea Dolan is a special education teacher and Rachael Pokrovski is the new media center teacher.
The new faculty members at Lynnfield High School are English teacher Adam Dell’Aria, adjustment counselor Ella Bitman, foreign language teacher Kristin Kruszyna, math teacher Emily LeBlanc and special education teacher Christine Smith.
Additionally, Sara Perkins is the school system’s new technology integration specialist. The school department requested a second technology integration specialist as part of its fiscal year 2016 budget. The position was budgeted for $65,000.
District initiatives
Tremblay, who is beginning her second year at the helm of Lynnfield Public Schools, said a draft of the district’s strategic plan is in the process of being finalized and will be presented to the School Committee on Sept. 1. She said the draft is based on the results of her entry plan, which was presented to the committee and PTOs last winter.
The superintendent attended a retreat last week with the administrative leadership team to finalize the draft. She said the School Committee will be reviewing and discussing the draft when she presents it next Tuesday.
Due to the strategic plan draft being presented at the beginning of the school year, Tremblay decided to have school improvement plans be presented this fall instead of last spring.
In addition to the strategic plan, the school department moved out of Town Hall last month into the school department’s new central office at 525 Salem St. The preschool was relocated to Summer Street School.
As part of the FY’16 school capital budget, $225,000 was allocated to improve school security. The funds were used to purchase cameras as well as install a buzzer system at Lynnfield High School.
Elementary
Summer Street School Principal Jen DiBiase the biggest initiative taking place at Summer Street this year is having the preschool at the elementary school, which she said is “very exciting.”
“The (preschool) staff is part of the Summer Street School staff and they are now located in the former art and music rooms,” said DiBiase.
Tremblay said preschool teachers are working hard to get their classrooms ready for when preschoolers make their debut at Summer Street on Sept. 2.
DiBiase also said Summer Street will be continuing its relationship with the Green City Growers, which along with the PTO helped plant a garden at the elementary school. She also said the elementary school will be developing new activities to “breathe new life” into Summer Street’s “Bucket Filling” character building program. She also noted Summer Street will be implementing new science standards this year.
Huckleberry Hill School Principal Brian Bemiss said Huckleberry Hill will “continue to implement mindfulness strategies” in all areas this year. He said these strategies are designed to “improve learning, memory, emotional regulation, empathy and overall executive functioning skills.”
Additionally, Bemiss said Huckleberry Hill will begin implementing new science standards as well to “ensure vertical articulation from kindergarten to grade 4.” He also said “best practices” for vocabulary instruction will be “discussed, modeled and implemented across all disciplines.”
Middle school
According to Principal Stephen Ralston, a new Curriculum Center is now in the Lynnfield Middle School’s main office, a place for staff and professional development meetings, among other uses.
Also, administrators at the town’s largest populated school are looking to enhance communication both electronically and with face-to-face coffee meetings.
High school
High School Principal Bob Cleary said Assistant Principal Kevin Cyr, guidance counselor Kathy Moody and foreign language teacher Julie Sgroi have revamped the high school’s Advisory Program this year, which is now called the Compass Program. He also said the high school will be looking into developing internships and other opportunities during the school day.
“We are excited to be back,” said Cleary.
Additionally, Cleary said student-athletes are looking forward to returning to the field this week as practices begin before the fall sports season kicks off.
