First Day of School a Success, Despite the Heat

The first day of school usually signifies the end of summer, but with the needle hovering around 90 degrees on Wednesday's opening day, it definitely felt like summer was trying to hang on.

But that did not stop the buses from heading out, picking up the earliest high school students at 6:30 a.m. (in grades K-9 on Wednesday, all grades on Thursday), as new and returning students began a new school year in the Ridgefield schools.

The heat was "very trying on the kids and teachers," according to Scotland principal Mark Solomon, but he said that the teachers were "terrific" in how they handled it.

This year, Scotland decided to move the Family Picnic, which is typically during the second week of school, to the day before school starts right after the Open House.

"It was a real welcome back open house," Solomon said. "Everyone is pretty much there anyway."

He also noted that he felt that the kids were "a little more relaxed and comfortable on their first day" because of the picnic from the day before.

Superintendent Deb Low also attended Scotland's picnic and said that it "really set the stage" for the upcoming year.

Other than one two-month leave replacement position to fill, the Speech and Language Pathologist position, Low said that all hiring was completed on August 16th and that the schools are fully staffed.

Low said that Ridgefield started the school year with 5,392 students including 351 kindergarteners. Both figures are higher than the projected numbers, but Low said that these numbers can go up and down over the first month of school and that official numbers are not released to the enrollment projectors or the State Department until October 1.

Low began her first day of school at the ninth grade orientation, then went on to Scotts Ridge Middle School, Farmingville, and then saw the kindergarten students at Branchville get on the bus to go home.

So far, kindergarten teachers reported all was well with the extended day, said Low. She added that only a handful of families in each school selected the "opt-out" early pickup for their kindergarteners, but she expects that some people might change their minds when full day begins in October.

"It was very hot, but people are making the best of it," said Low, who stated that they have traditionally had early dismissals in schools that lack air conditioning when there were three consecutive days of high heat and humidity.

Despite the heat, Ridgebury principal Liz Smith also cited a smooth opening.

"The children and teachers are excited to be back," she said. "We had an end of day assembly where we welcomed our new students and celebrated a new school year."

Since the kindergarteners had already left the building for the day, she said they will do this assembly for them when they are there full time.

Smith noted that Ridgebury, a fourth-tier school on the bus schedule, did have an issue with the mid-day kindergarten bus with buses arriving at the school late, but said the issue was resolved by day two.

Farmingville, also a fourth-tier school, reported a similar issue with kindergarten mid-day buses arriving at the school late, leaving parents waiting over an hour for their kindergartner to be dropped off.

However, Farmingville parents reported that by the second day, the issue was resolved.

Low's take on the delayed buses was due to a "combination of factors."

She said it's hard to know "how long it takes to get little people on buses."

Despite the bus issue, Farmingville principal Susan Gately said the tone of the first day was "positive and upbeat."

 "The sparkling new floors in the intermediate wing and cafeteria, the new SmartBoards, the new furniture in the classrooms and library and community garden combined with talented new faculty joining our wonderful staff all are metaphors for the hopes, dreams and promises for the new school year," Gately said.

And getting off the bus after school on Limekiln Road, Farmingville students looked happy and not at all affected by the hot temperature.

The blazing heat did not affect everyone, particularly those at East Ridge Middle School, where the air conditioner was pumping thanks to a renovation eight years ago, according to principal Marty Fiedler.

"Heat? What heat?" he laughed.

Fiedler stated that East Ridge Middle School's opening day was "fabulous," noting no transportation issues, a full staff, and no major issues with the lockers, which is usually the "biggest source of anxiety for incoming sixth graders."

The sixth graders were given a full hour of supervised locker practice prior to opening day and had the whole last week to come in any time they want to practice opening and set up their lockers, which are cleaned over the summer by the custodial staff, according to Fiedler.

New Scotts Ridge Middle School principal Tim Salem also noted no issues and thought the first day was a huge success.

"I would say the atmosphere was extremely positive," he said. "I judge that based on all the smiles that permeated the building!"

On his first day with students in the building, Salem said, "Students, staff and parents made me feel very welcome which I truly appreciate."

Frances Walton, PTA President at Farmingville Elementary School where her youngest daughter is in third grade, also has a an 11th grader at Ridgefield High School and an 8th grader at East Ridge Middle School so she sees the breadth of back-to-school experiences.

She said her youngest daughter was "delighted with her teacher and classmates," and noted that her eighth grader "had a busy day catching up with friends and finding out who was in her various classes."

She sent her 11th grader, whose first day was Thursday, off to school "clutching his summer AP project, and I won't say he had a spring in his step but he wasn't dragging his feet either." Walton took this as a good sign.

The new freshmen at RHS had no chance to drag their feet on their first day of school on Wednesday, according to principal Jeffrey Jaslow.

"They spent part of their day with faculty and student leaders in small groups, had lunch en masse in the student center, and went through their academic schedule for abbreviated class periods.  Ice cream dessert was served compliments of Student Government," he said.

He noted that many sophomores and upperclassmen gave up their last day of summer vacation to help the freshmen through their first day of high school.

Citing heat as the only issue, Jaslow thought the day went well and said it was a "nice, smooth opening to the new school year."