St. Marys Elementary School kicked off their school year today welcoming some old and a few new students.
"We have enrolled some new youngsters of course, it happens everyday, first day of school. We've had a great opening day, the teachers are going over all the things they need to with the youngsters, were excited for a new school year", says Principal Thomas Hardbarger. And a new school year means a new approach to how they hit the books. This year St. Marys will implement a new reading program.
"The reading program is a Scott Fores man reading program, its a good elementary reading program. It includes all of the components of the reading and of course now were going to have a ninety minute reading block, at least, minimally", says Hardbarger. With the new reading program, St. Marys is hoping to increase the kids reading level. "its going to not only give the kids more time with their regular teacher but also, more time for additional supplemental work with the youngsters in a small group, working with the different skill areas they have weaknesses in", says Hardbarger.
But it's not all work and no play, along with a new reading program, St. Marys also has a new playground. "We just installed a new playground for the younger children and the Pre-K and K children, we also put in a new tire swing. We have a new two-base swing and a new climbing wall", says Hardbarger. And of course with every new school year comes safety concerns. This year St. Marys is taking extra precautions to keep their kids safe. "We also put in some new safety features by installing some fencing, some gates in our access drive to allow the children to safely go on and off the playground", says Hardbarger. On the playground or in the classroom, it's a fresh start for all the students, old and new.
This year visitors will have to report directly to the office and are required to wear a visitors badge. Parents don't have to show ID when dropping off their kids, but after school pick-ups will be supervised by teachers.