Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 8/29/2023
WESTHAMPTON — The Hampshire Regional School District hosted the first classes of the 2023-2024 school year on Aug. 30. Orientation for seventh graders, arriving at the middle school, began on Aug. 29.
Principal Lauren Hotz was excited to begin a new year with new faces on staff and among the students. There will be a total of 180 new students.
“We are excited to welcome everyone back to school,” Hotz said in the district newsletter. “I am also pleased to welcome our new staff members…Alysa Prucnal and Michael Prattico.”
Prattico and Prucnal will serve in classrooms as para-professionals.
The district office will also be enjoying the services of two new staff members, Mary Jane Rickson and Hanno Muellner. Muellner will serve as physician for the district, a position, according to Superintendent Diana Bonneville, that is difficult to fill. Rickson will serve as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment. Both hirings are on a permanent basis.
Rickson left her position as principal at Murdock High School, part of the Winchendon district, to come to Hampshire Regional. She served as superintendent in North Brookfield and interim superintendent in Athol-Royalston. Muellner is a popular internist and medical doctor in Williamsburg.
Hotz reminded students of the basics for the first day of school. Students must be in attendance, in school, by 7:37 a.m. Last bell of the school day rings at 2:15 p.m. Today, during orientation for 7th graders, the day starts at the usual time but ends at 11 a.m. Parents who drove children to the orientation should pick them up then.
Hotz was pleased to relay that the state subsidy of school lunches continues this year.
“Although meals are free for all students, we still encourage families to fill out the free and reduced lunch application if they believe they are eligible,” Hotz said. “Students who qualify…are eligible for other fee reductions at school [including athletic fees]. In addition, our school can save additional money when we have an accurate count of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.”
Anne T. Dunphy School Principal Stacy Jenkins notified parents the first day of classes is Aug. 31, with two chances to reduce the first day nervousness for young and old. The first chance was on Tuesday, Aug. 29, when the the school hosted a Sneak-a-Peek from 2:15 until 3 p.m.
“Please feel free to drop in anytime during that block to help calm those back to school jitters, if your child would find that helpful,” Jenkins said in her welcome letter to parents.
Kindergarten parents finding it hard to send a child out into the world for the first time can sit for a Boo-Hoo Breakfast on Aug. 31 at 8:30 a.m. Those who want to meet other grieving parents will find empathetic ears.
“Our boo hoo breakfast is an opportunity for coffee, snacks, [tissues!] and a time to cry with...I mean, connect with other kindergarten families,” Jenkins joked.
In Southampton, Norris School Principal Aliza Pluta was pleased the school has a new art teacher, Lisa Winter. She said students will also find a new look in the halls around the upper grades.
“We did paint the fifth and sixth grade lockers this summer, so they’re a beautiful blue color,” Pluta said. The mulch in the playground has also been replaced, “so that’s up to code and looking great.”
Second grade teacher Bridget King wrote this year’s welcome letter for Norris students and parents. The class this year has 21 students.
Students will have a 10 minute snack break around 10:15 a.m. Norris is peanut free. A child may want to bring a favorite toy to play with at recess, but King suggested the time would be better used burning off calories with other kids. Several times during the year a sharing time will let students show off their favorite toys, in class.
Students will be expected to do a certain amount of homework each night. For King’s second grade class, students should be reading 20 to 30 minutes a night.
At New Hingham Elementary School, serving Chesterfield and Goshen students, parents can also vent their emotions over leaving their child for the first time. Principal Amanda Faro mentioned the Tears and Cheers program on the first day of class.
“After you wave goodbye to your kindergarten kiddo, join us in the library to share some tears and cheers, and get to connect with other parents and caregivers,” Faro wrote.
Faro also notified parents of events coming up in early September. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 are visitation days for pre-K students, with the first day on Sept. 6. There will be no school on Sept. 6, Labor Day. There will be a game night on Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m. Picture day will be Sept. 14.
Pluta, principal at Norris School, summarized the general excitement of district staff.
“We’re just moving ahead and looking forward to a great year, students and staff,” Pluta said.