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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Gone are the days of running through the sprinklers in the backyard and lounging around the house all day, and in are the days of jotting down notes in a spiral-bound notebook and hauling a stuffed backpack home every day. For Dover and Sherborn, Walpole, Medfield, Needham and Wellesley, August 30 marked the beginning of a new academic year.
That’s right, school is back in session, which means students are feeling excited and eager to learn after a refreshing two and a half months of vacation.
As Dover Sherborn Middle School opened its doors to students again Wednesday morning, the sixth through eighth graders poured into the bright hallways. The seventh and eighth graders, who know the halls like the back of their hands, casually strolled up to the doors and met up with friends, excitedly chatting about the new year, while the nervous sixth graders made their way to the Choral Room upstairs, as the anxiety of entering middle school kicked in. “Everybody is always nervous on the first day, including the teacher,” one sixth grade teacher admitted.
A sixth grade teacher at DSMS reads students’ names off a roster to bring them to homeroom. Photos by Laura Drinan
Once all of the new middle school students had settled into the Choral Room, the teachers started calling students off of their rosters and leading them to the classrooms. As the students hopped from their spot on the Choral Room’s risers and followed their teacher into the hallways, their excitement started to bubble up as they began a new chapter in their academic career. “We’re just excited to have the kids here,” said Headmaster Scott Kellett. “It’s boring without them.”
Meanwhile at Walpole’s Fisher Elementary School, Principal Colleen Duggan and the faculty welcomed students with hugs and high-fives as they jumped off the bus and skipped through the front doors. As the final buses departed and the doors closed, ready for the first day to begin, Principal Duggan gave the children some time with their teachers before inviting the different grades to the auditorium for an assembly.
Once the second graders were seated in the auditorium, Principal Duggan welcomed the students back. “For those of you who are new to Fisher School: Hello! My name is Mrs. Duggan and I’m the principal here,” she said. “My job is to keep everybody safe, happy, curious, and having fun.” Principal Duggan and the second grade teachers helped remind the students and teach the new faces to Fisher School about their hand signal to stop, look, and listen to directions. After two of Fisher’s second grade teachers demonstrated how to respond to the hand signal, Principal Duggan selected several eager students to test their abilities to follow the hand signal. As the kids played rock, paper, scissors, Principal Duggan silently raised her hand and waited for the children to stop, look, and listen. After giving the children feedback on their responses, Principal Duggan thanked the second grade students and shared how excited she is for the school year as the smiling second graders headed back to their classrooms.
In Medfield, Wheelock Elementary School students and teachers quickly settled into their classrooms as they began the new school year. One third grade class was already sitting together on the rug of their classroom for a morning lesson from their teacher, Erin Watson, just a couple of hours into the school day. “We have lovely children here. They’re so well behaved and we’re looking forward to having them back. It’s been a very smooth day so far,” said Wheelock Elementary Principal, Donna Olson.
One sixth grade class heads downstairs to its classroom on the first day of school. Photos by Laura Drinan
Also enjoying a smooth transition from summertime to school mode was Franklin, Wheelock Elementary School’s service dog, owned by learning specialist Kelley Kennedy. Although Franklin has only been with the school since February of 2017, he has quickly earned a spot in the hearts of the students and faculty. “He’s made such a remarkable impact on our school, and you just can’t help but smile when you see him,” said Principal Olson. She and Kennedy would introduce Franklin to the new students and returning ones at a school-wide assembly later in the day, where she would also introduce their owl mascot, Ralph, and remind the elementary school students to always practice respect, responsibility, and safety in order to have a fantastic school year.
Nearby in Needham, students at Newman Elementary School unleashed their energy at recess on the Philip V. Robey playground. “It’s been crazy, fast, and fun, just like it should be,” said Principal Jessica Peterson about the school’s first day. As the fourth graders lined up to head back inside from recess, Principal Peterson encouraged the students to be patient as they waited in line and complimented their good behavior. It wasn’t long before the fifth graders came running outside, on to the basketball court and playground to hang out with friends after lunch. For the 35 new students at Newman Elementary across first through fifth grade, lunchtime and recess may seem like a daunting hour. However, Principal Peterson and the other recess aides ensured that every student had someone to spend time with during the break from academics.
Two fifth graders mentioned they were mostly looking forward to the field trips to museums they would be going on this year, and hoped for some special activities throughout the year because it was their last year at Newman Elementary. While fifth grade didn’t seem too different than fourth grade to two girls, they did joke that one thing has changed: fifth grade lunch feels a lot later than fourth grade lunch.
As the first day of school came to an end, parents at Wellesley Middle School waited to pick up their middle school students as the buses lined up behind the school. One parent waited for the 2:29 p.m. bell to find out how her sixth grader’s first day of middle school went. “She was very nervous. She wanted to go back to elementary school,” she said. “But my fingers are crossed that she had a good day.”
Another parent, whose daughter is just beginning her time at Wellesley Middle School as a seventh grader, mentioned that they had just moved from North Carolina. “I will say this: the school does a very good job at partnering up new students with existing ones,” he said, adding that he was hoping for news of a successful and enjoyable first day when she hopped into the car. As the bell rang and students were dismissed, some headed towards their family cars, while others reached into their backpacks to grab their bus passes. Many others who were walking home stopped by the ice cream truck parked by the middle school to reward themselves with a frozen treat.
While many parents, students, and faculty were certainly feeling the first-day jitters earlier in the morning, much of the beginning-of-the-school-year anxiety wore off throughout the day, turning into enthusiasm, excitement, and smiles for the remainder of the year.
