Whether today marks a child’s very first day of kindergarten or the start of a teenager’s last year of high school, the excitement that’s been building up has finally reached its peak, as the 2013-2014-school begins today. All last week everyone kicked preparations into a higher gear, but it wasn’t just students getting ready–teachers, administrators, bus drivers, school custodians and, of course, parents also started anticipating back-to-school.
Teachers reported to work all last week getting classrooms and material ready, and each school hosted students for meet-the-teacher and walk-throughs so that Wilton children and parents could get acclimated for returning to class. Wilton High School welcomed its new freshman last Friday at orientation and saw a large turnout for the club fair that followed directly after. While the school’s youngest students were busy being welcomed in, the school’s seniors woke up on Tuesday, earlier then they would have to all year in order to pick out the perfect locker.
Students in grades K-8 met their teachers as well on Thursday, while parents navigated signing up for PTA membership and Spirit Wear purchases.
Administrative changes affect each of Wilton’s four schools. WHS social studies teacher Donald Schels has moved from the classroom to the assistant principal’s office. Just down the road from the high school, the newly appointed Cider Mill principal, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, will greet all her new students on the first day of school. Dr. Mitchell succeeds Virginia Rico, the much-loved principal who passed away on June 26. Middlebrook students have a new principal as well, with Maria Coleman stepping in to fill the shoes of Julia Harris, who retired at the end of last year. And Miller-Driscoll welcomed Jeremy Cross as the new assistant principal overseeing first grade.
There have been cosmetic changes to some of the schools, none more notable than bathroom improvements at the high school and at Middlebrook. There’s also a new radar speed alert sign on Wolfpit Rd., close to the Miller-Driscoll school entrance.
Other changes greeting parents and students include the implementation of participation fees for activities, clubs and sports, for students in grades 3-12. All parents are now able to access PowerSchool Parent Portal, as well as Edline, for information and communication between the school and teachers and home. And for kindergarteners, this year marks the start of full-day kindergarten every day of the week.
One other beloved Wilton school figure will be missed by many: Angela Somers, who was the attendance secretary at Wilton High School, passed away this summer.