Ludlow, Belchertown schools get ready for new school yearDate: 8/23/2023 As students and parents prepare for the school year, so are the Belchertown and Ludlow school districts.
Ludlow Superintendent Frank Tiano is excited for the school year which starts on Aug. 30 for grades 1-12 and Sept. 7 for pre-K and kindergarten.
Tiano is in his second year as superintendent of Ludlow schools and is looking to build off year one.
He said, “Excited to start the school year. We’ve spent all of last year as I transitioned in getting to know the district and understanding what our needs are.”
In January, the Ludlow school district put together a strategic planning process where they met with stakeholders from across the school community to redevelop core values, its vision and its mission.
Tiano said, “Just as importantly, we really looked at our objectives and strategies that are really going to move the needle in terms of student growth. Our schools have been working on school improvement plans that are aligned with the district plan so that our district comes back together.”
Tiano said the distict is still finalizing the objectives and will present them to the School Committee in September for final approval.
He added, “We are a great school district with excellent professionals, and we are just trying to make sure we are all on the same page in meeting the needs of students. One of our objectives in engaging the community and focusing on our communication. We put some effort into our website to make that more robust and provide information for our families.”
Tiano also said there is a new app that he will be sharing with parents soon that will increase communication between the parents and schools.
“What that does is provide consistency pre-K-12 in terms of the type of technology we use to communicate with parents, and it translates into parents home language so that’s a great change for us as well,” Tiano said.
He added, “How we communicate with parents. We can send a mass email or mass text but we use a variety of different software packages now, but we consolidated them basically into one that we hope is more use friendly and more productive for our families and for our staff.”
Tiano gave advice for students returning to school.
He said, “In terms of entering schools in the next few weeks, have them check out our website, pay attention to information from our principals in terms orientations ensuring they have all the information and children have all the information they need.”
Tiano added advice for those students who may be new to the district to try and become more comfortable before they start school.
He said, “If they are new to the district, have them come play on the playground and get use to seeing and being on the property of the schools. Parents can go through where their bus stops may be also.”
When it comes to goals and priorities for the school year, Tiano said they tie in with the new strategic plan.
“It ties directly to our district improvement plan with our four major objectives. We looked at data, both quantitative and qualitative data, for both our students and our instruction. Our number one goal is around students and staff wellness and ensuring that in order for students to learn and access the curriculum, they need to be safe, they need to be well socially, and they need to be supported. Since COVID it’s still been difficult for students, staff parents so we are focusing on the environment in which we teach our students so they can fully access the curriculum.”
Belchertown schools start on Wednesday, Aug. 30, for grades 1-12 and Belchertown High School Principal Christine Vigneux said she is ready to welcome students.
One way she is trying to get high school students ready is by sending out a memo on the importance of attendance and tips for improving attendance and punctuality.
“We are encouraging the importance of attendance and punctuality. This is something that we have shared with our students and parents, guardians and caregivers,” Vigneux added.
She said her goal for the school year is to show the students the “Oriole Way.”
“Our nest will continue to be a place where we want everyone to feel safe, valued, and validated. We will continue to remind our students of who we are as Orioles,” Vigneux added.
Director of Early Childhood Andrea Mastalerz said she is also looking forward to the school year.
Preschool and kindergarten screening will take place from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.
Visiting Day will be on Tuesday, Sept. 5, for all students at Cold Spring School.
Preschool students begin classes on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Kindergarten’s staggered entrance dates are Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 6-7.
Mastalerz added, “Please check your child’s placement packet for the date. All kindergarten students report to school Friday, Sept. 8.”
Starting school for the first time can be a nerve racking time so Mastalerz thinks it is best to get into a routine before school starts.
“We encourage families to set a routine. Consistent bedtime and morning schedule, reading and discussing stories about starting school, driving by and seeing the school, having conversations about starting school, sharing with their child that they will make new friends, explore many new learning adventures. Reassure their littles that it’s normal to feel nervous; however, there will be many grown-ups to help them,” she said.
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