WV teachers preparing classrooms, sharing advice for the new school year
With the first day of school right around the corner, teachers in Warwick Valley Central School District are final preparations for the arrival of their students. Teachers have already been in their classrooms the past few weeks, putting new books on the shelves, hanging new decorations, and getting desks ready with nametags for the eager learners who will be back sitting in them next week. The anticipation and enthusiasm of our Warwick Valley teachers about the first day of school has been palpable this week, and they’ve even shared some first-day words of advice for students, who are assuredly feeling similar excitement.
“I would tell the kids coming in to just think about all of the new things they will learn,” recommended Jamie Harrington, a PIE 3-4 teacher at Sanfordville Elementary School. “A lot of things are new on the first day, we have new school supplies, and everything is new and fresh. It’s a new beginning and I love that feeling of starting fresh every year.”
Meghan Reilly also teaches PIE 3-4 at Sanfordville and shared some of the unique aspects of teaching in the PIE program.
“As a PIE classroom, some of the class returns, and with my third graders it’s always so exciting to see how much they’ve grown from last year — not only in height, but also in personality — and how they are maturing,”. said Ms. Reilly. “One thing I’m excited about for this school year is getting to know the new third graders. I’m definitely excited to continue to grow our classroom community.”
“I’m looking forward to getting back into the classroom routine,” said Janna Milazzo, who teaches eighth grade English at the middle school. “The kids are always different, the makeup of the classes changes, and the curriculum’s always evolving. We’re always changing things up around here, and it’s nice and it’s refreshing. Eighth graders are trying to figure out who they are, so we teach a lot of lessons here in English class.”
“I will tell my students to look forward to homecoming,” said Andrew Warren, a math and robotics teacher at the high school. “I think homecoming is really exciting. It’s nice to work together and see all the floats getting built. I’m also looking forward to getting to know all my students and developing those connections with them.”
Catherine Hobart, who teaches second grade at Park Avenue, addressed a concern many students may have as they enter into any new school year.
“The biggest fear that some students come in with is ‘will my teacher be nice,’” she said. “So, in my experience, I focus on social emotional learning first. It’s so important for them to be comfortable. I do this really fun activity where we sit in a circle and I toss a ball of yarn and I show, visually, how we’re all connected and that we’re going to become a family here. I make sure to check in with the kids during the first week and ask how they are feeling, what’s making them happy or what’s making them sad, so they feel that support.”
“I would tell my students ‘Don’t be too nervous,’” said Carolyn Weller, who teaches third grade at Park Avenue. “I would let them know that they have supportive teachers, and that while they may know a few people in their class, this is also their opportunity to make new friends. Change is good, and they should embrace the changes and the new opportunities they will encounter.”
Echoing a common sentiment among our Warwick Valley teachers, administrators and faculty preparing for the new school year, Ms. Weller said she is looking forward to something that Warwick Valley, the school and the town, take great pride in — strong community.
“I’m really looking forward to building a community with my class,” said Ms. Weller. “Each class brings its own personality, just like a family does, and I’m really looking forward to creating that with them.”
The first day of school is Tuesday, September 3, and WVCSD is excited to welcome everyone back!