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All across the Hendrick Hudson School District, students and staff have been settling into the rhythm of what feels like a very typical start of the school year, something everyone seems very happy about!
“After the past few years of extraordinary challenges for our staff, students and families, we were thrilled to open our doors and welcome everyone back for an opening day that felt wonderfully normal,” said Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter. Stopping by different buildings during the first week of school, he said he could sense a new level of energy and excitement in classrooms and hallways.
At Frank G. Lindsey, the district’s youngest students have been learning new routines and getting familiar with their new teachers and classmates. In two brand-new Universal Pre-K classrooms, led by Tammy Emanuelo and Dr. Jen Lefevre, songs like “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” and fun activity stations helped students begin to learn one another’s names. Principal Dr. Cynthia Kramer stopped by classrooms to read aloud and get to know the students, and kindergarten and first graders enjoyed grade-level “playdates” on the playground, an activity that allows classes to enjoy some outdoor fun together.
Principal Donna Torrisi stopped by classrooms at Buchanan-Verplanck, where she had everyone doing dance moves to the syllables of each student’s name to help classmates remember their new friends' names. B-V second graders shared “All About Me” bags, in which they place five special items to tell their classmates about.
At Furnace Woods, the district’s oldest elementary grades were welcomed back to school with many fun activities aimed at helping everyone get to know one another. Fourth graders designed paper Instagram-style profiles and “getting to know you” flags, while fifth graders learned about each other with a game called “Find a friend who…”. Principal Josh Cohen visited each classroom to go over the Sailor STRONG acronym (Safe, Team Player, Respectful, Organized, Neighborly, Grit), learn students' names and start building a sense of community.
Students at Blue Mountain Middle School were welcomed back with grade-based assemblies, during which new principal Lauren Scollins shared goals and expectations for the year and shared with students a number of leadership opportunities available to them, including a new Principal’s Advisory Committee.
“It was an exciting week at the middle school, getting students back into their school routines,” said Scollins. “It feels wonderful to see everyone get back to the little things we used to take for granted (before the pandemic), such as decorating lockers or having lunch all together.”
During the first week of classes at Hendrick Hudson High School, Acting Principal Anthony Giovinazzi and Assistant Principal Nick Katsaris visited P.E. classes to discuss the opening of school and expectations for the year. “We are keeping four words front and center,” said Giovinazzi. “Kindness, respect, communication and collaboration.” HIgh school athletics are also in full swing, and a Club Fair during the second week of school enabled students to explore many after-school activities.
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