Smooth Sailing at Flower Hill School
The teachers at Flower Hill Primary School started filtering back to their classrooms weeks before the official opening of the new school year last week. They wanted to make sure everything was “just right” when students returned and sat at their desks for the first time.
When the buses pulled in last Wednesday and 385 youngsters disembarked and filed into the school, all the ingredients were in place for a successful year. The books and workbooks, maps, worksheets, computers, blackboards, musical instruments, paint and brushes and bases and balls were all set and ready for use.
“Our parents, teachers, and students were excited to be back at school,” Flower Hill Principal Marlon Small said. “The school year started smoothly.” The cafeteria served breakfast and lunch to those wishing to participate in the food service program, the playgrounds and fields were ready for recess and the library staff was waiting for the first books to be checked out using a new automated system.
Flower Hill welcomed several new teachers to its faculty ranks and also saw the return of other teachers who had previously been away on leaves of absence. The school’s new dual language program kicked-off at the kindergarten level and a bilingual class continued for a second year, this time at the first grade level.
All across the Huntington School District teachers returned to set up their rooms, check in supplies and plan lessons far earlier than they were contractually required to do so on Sept. 2. “Our teachers are a very dedicated group and always put their students first,” Superintendent John J. Finello said.
Flower Hill’s custodial staff members worked long hours scrubbing clean every nook and cranny of the building and then putting a shine to every surface. When students walked into their rooms for the first time, they found spotless desks, sparkling floors and smiling teachers and aides.
After making their way through the Flower Hill lobby, which was festively decorated with countless balloons, more the 70 new kindergarten students quickly settled into four different classrooms on opening day. “Our kindergartners made an easy transition to their new school,” Mr. Small said. The youngsters could be seen being ushered around the building by their teachers.
With the exception of a couple of bus glitches, the opening three days of school went exceptionally well. “All of this is a result of the hard work and careful preparation that was done by our faculty and staff,” Mr. Small said. “We are all looking forward to an exciting school year.”
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