There were smiling faces as Warren Township Schools welcomed back students and staff for the start of the new school year. Students disembarked buses on September 7 greeting friends and teachers, after staff members had met for two days on September 5 and 6 for a series of department meetings, curriculum reviews and other key professional development.
“Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year,” said superintendent Dr. Matthew Mingle who opened a district wide staff meeting on September 5, outlining his vision for the coming school year and paying tribute to the district’s hardworking summer staff.
On hand as staff members arrived for the opening day sessions were 7th graders Emma and Ronald Leung who serenaded the group on the harp and keyboard, respectively.
“What a wonderful way to start our day and our school year,” said Mingle about the young musicians.
Mingle also welcomed staff new to the district – 20 teachers, 3 paraprofessionals, three central office staff, 1 driver, and 1 custodian. He also recognized the district’s five recipients of last June’s “Excellence in Education” award: Hildegarde Jackson, Central School Spanish teacher; Elena Marinello, Grade 1 teacher at Angelo L. Tomaso School; Lauren Regal, Grade 8 Guidance Counselor; Jennifer Ronkiewicz, Woodland art teacher (who moves to Warren Middle School this year); and Kristen Stoyanov, who taught Grade 3 at Mt. Horeb last year before becoming one of two K-5 instructional specialists.
Board president Tia Allocco discussed the changes she has seen as board member and parent over the past 7 years including schedules, leadership, security upgrades and Chromebooks.
“What hasn’t changed over the years is the professionalism and the passion in this room,” Allocco told the gathering of educators and district staff. “When you marry together that professionalism and teaching experience with the compassion and the kindness, you get the Warren Township School District.”
More than 1,700 students, kindergarten through eighth grade, will attend Warren Township’s four elementary schools and one middle school this year.
Central School fifth graders (pictured l-r) Grace Prayias, Bree Kleinberg, Isaac Seubert and Brayden Kelly are all smiles as their bus arrives for the first day of school.
Seventh grade twins, Emma and Ronald Leung, serenade Warren Township Schools staff members as they arrive for the opening day session on Sept. 5.
Photo Credit: Warren Township Schools
