10 of county’s 16 school districts enjoy smooth opening day
Rebecca Byerly yawns at her desk in the first-grade class of Peg Murr at Hambright Elementary School in the Penn Manor district this morning.
By Cindy Stauffer And Joan Kern
Published Aug 28, 2006 14:52
The timeless ritual of the first day of school took place today in 10 districts around the county, as kids streamed in on buses, in cars and on foot to start a new year.
Outside one Ephrata elementary school, eager early birds gathered on the sidewalk waiting for the bell to ring to kick off the year. At one Millersville middle school, kids got a jump-start on algebra.
Smooth beginnings were reported across the county, as parents videotaped their kindergartners’ first day and seniors heard about graduation and the start of their adult lives.
“It’s nice to see the kids after they have been away for awhile,” said Donald Reed, Garden Spot High School principal. “As they go through high school, you see them growing up a little bit. You see the fresh faces of the ninth-graders coming in. It’s really a neat experience.”
Cocalico
A little girl heading to kindergarten in Denver got off the bus in Stevens by mistake.
But no tears were shed.
“She spent a few minutes coloring, then we sent her off on another bus,” said Nathan Van Duesen, new principal of Schoeneck Elementary School.
This year, the little rural school in the Cocalico School District upgraded its technology program for its 108 students.
“We’ve disbanded our computer lab,” he said. “We’re going all mobile, integrating technology into all our curriculum areas with 22 iBooks. We’re excited about it.”
Donegal
At Donegal Springs Elementary School in Mount Joy, things seemed to fall into place very well this morning, said Susan Ursprung, the district director of curriculum and instruction.
While visiting the school, she saw “many, many smiling children’s faces throughout the hallways and in the elementary classrooms.”
As parents and grandparents dropped off children, the kids handled the separation from their parents well.
Ursprung saw “one mom who was holding back the tears, but she said, ‘It was a great day.’”
Eastern Lancaster County
By 8 a.m. today, Garden Spot High School students already were sitting in their first-period class at the New Holland school.
Principal Reed said the school has about eight new teachers this year, who had a few weeks of preparation as well as two inservice days to get up and running.
Students were ready to begin classes, too.
“They seemed like they do every opening day,” he said. “They were eager to find where their homeroom is and who has the same classes they do.”
Elizabethtown
Classes began smoothly today at Elizabethtown Middle School, as the school readied to assess its new student body.
During the week, all the middle school students will take pre-tests in the core subjects.
“That will help teachers understand where (the students) are now so they can modify the curriculum,” said Gail Cohick, assistant principal.
“We’re all about students succeeding,” Cohick said. “Student achievement is critical.”
Students began school today with a modified schedule to accommodate assemblies, a longer homeroom and building tours.
Ephrata
Buses and students arrived on time at the district’s seven schools.
At Highland Elementary School in Ephrata, about 25 kids were gathered on the sidewalk by 8:15 a.m., before the 8:30 a.m. bell.
“They were waiting to get in,” said Kim Schlemmer, principal.
The school is undergoing a renovation that includes the installation of air conditioning, new lighting and fresh paint in the gym and cafeteria. Over the summer, the library was reorganized and students also have a brand-new computer lab, with 25 computers.
Manheim Central
Manheim Central High School students were greeted with a new weight room and wrestling room, as well as new artificial turf in the stadium.
Assistant Superintendent Ron Straley said field hockey, soccer and football teams will use the new facilities.
He was not willing to predict how Central’s traditional powerhouse football team would do this year.
“I’d get in trouble with the coach if I did that,” he said.
Students and teachers welcomed new Principal Scott Deisley at the middle school, which will move into a $35 million building, now under construction, next year.
Manheim Township
Yep, that guy directing traffic outside Manheim Township High School today was Superintendent Kevin Singer. He joined other administrators in helping to reroute traffic due to an $80 million renovation and expansion of the high school.
Inside the school, some ceiling and floor tiles were missing today, but students didn’t seem to notice, said David Hanna, principal.
“I haven’t heard a kid mention that,” he said. “Right now they are really interested in seeing each other and being back in school.”
Orientation assemblies were held for sophomores and seniors, who heard about the prom and graduation.
Over at Schaeffer Elementary in Grandview Heights, a different kind of adjustment was going on, as parents videotaped their children’s important first day of school, said Kathie Arnold, assistant to the superintendent.
Penn Manor
The news in the Penn Manor School District today was the larger-than-expected student body.
“That’s indicative of growth in Lancaster County,” said Superintendent Don Stewart. “Over the summer, we picked up 91 new kids.”
The first day in the district of more than 5,300 students — the fourth largest in the county — went off without a hitch.
The superintendent said he is excited about the spring groundbreaking of an $11 million renovation and building project at Marticville Middle School.
Also, Penn Manor has accelerated its math curriculum and is offering alegbra to seventh-grade students for the first time.
Pequea Valley
Students were smiling in Pequea Valley, said Patrick Hallock, superintendent, who oversaw his first day of school in that position.
At the Intermediate School in Kinzers, sixth- to eighth-graders were acting cool, said Erik Orndorff, principal.
“The ones that are honest said they were very excited and a little nervous,” he said with a chuckle.
Sixth-graders had an assembly, where they met teachers and heard about school procedures. Next week, the school plans a pep rally.
Solanco
The district had 25 new teachers beginning classes today, alongside students.
Six of the 23 teachers were new at Clermont Elementary School, south of Quarryville.
“The young teachers that I hired are very motivated and enthusiastic,” said Bev Kreeger, principal. “It’s been exciting having them be a part of the school.”
In the hallways, kids displayed new clothes, shoes, backpacks and supplies.
The school is expanding its before- and after-school care, as well as working on an assessment program.
“Everyone is just fine,” Kreeger said. “They are here, working hard.” New Era Staff Writer Robyn Meadows contributed to this report.
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