Prospect Elementary Principal Martin Linder joins third-graders for lunch.
Heat and humidity aside, Superintendent Brian Garverick said the start of the 2016-17 school year has been “the smoothest in years.”
Most students began classes on Aug. 17.
“I have been in all of our schools. The start of classes has gone very well,” Garverick said. “Some of our buildings are not air-conditioned. I appreciate very much the work of our staffs and students on hot days. Hopefully, we are about to turn the corner on cooler, less humid weather.”
Principals agreed with the superintendent’s assessment of a smooth start.
“It’s been great. I am very pleased,” said Michael Wallace, new principal at Sherman Elementary School. “A highlight for me has been our staff’s welcome to me and their kindness to parents. They have handled things very well helping students get off to a great start.
“The kids have settled in quickly. I have seen a lot of leadership from older students who know the playground rules and how to walk in the hallways.”
Wallace said the question students asked most often last week was, “Where’s Mr. Rizzo?” Longtime principal Stephen Rizzo moved this summer to the Raemelton administration building where he now serves as district curriculum director.
Gabe Costa is principal of both the Spanish Immersion School and the district’s new STEM elementary kindergarten classes at Springmill Learning Center.
“This year’s start could not have been smoother,” Costa said. “The beginning of the year was planned well in advance by all the staff in both buildings and all the students were ready to work from the very first day.
“It was great to see the returning students once again and to meet all of the kindergarten kiddos from Springmill and to greet the two biggest kindergarten classes we’ve had at Mansfield Spanish Immersion.”
Costa said screening many kindergarten children in May helped to save time and he credited the transportation department with having buses “one again ready to transport everyone on Day 1.”
Woodland Elementary Principal Kim Johnson echoed the smooth start in a message on the school’s web site.
“We had a wonderful first week. Thanks to all the students, families and staff for making it great,” she said.
Martin Linder, new principal at Prospect Elementary School, joined students for lunch in the cafeteria Monday.
“Everything has gone smoothly. Students and staff are working hard,” he said. “The only thing has been the heat, but it will get better.”
Senior High, Mansfield Middle School, Malabar Intermediate School and the Hedges campus also reported successful operations during the first nine days of school.