‘Excitement’ rose at Poland day before students returned to school
Sept. 7, 2017
Amid a superintendent’s conference day on Tuesday, Sept. 5, filled with professional development, staff recognition and catching up with colleagues, Poland Central School District teachers were also putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the school year.
With so much going on, the day requires some good time management in order to accomplish everything you want to, Poland French teacher Tierra Glover said.
“It’s stress, but it’s excitement,” she said. “Everybody is excited to have the kids coming back.”
Poland students started school on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Teachers have been preparing over the summer and working on getting their classrooms ready in recent days.
Glover said she has been making bulletin boards, doing research online, rearranging some of her classroom, preparing activities for French Club and a mock trial club and assisting other teachers with their classrooms.
“It’s teachers helping teachers – together as a team,” she said.
Poland kindergarten teacher Carrie Roark said she hosted her “meet the teacher” night on Thursday, Aug. 31, and she had about a week before that to start coming in and getting her room ready – such as preparing materials and putting up bulletin boards.
“Things to make it nice and inviting and friendly – to spark that interest in being here,” she said.
The preparation for the first day of school was different this year for many teachers – with new flooring being put in for classrooms in the elementary wing, Roark said. Her room also moved this school year, so cupboards and such had to be emptied.
“Everything came out, so then everything had to come back in,” she said.
Custodial staff worked well with teachers and were very helpful in assisting with making sure teachers could prepare their classrooms under a tighter timeline this summer, Roark said.
There also were changes in Poland art teacher Floretta Prestigiacomo’s room – with new flooring and new tables just finished being set up on Friday. Sept. 1.
“I’m excited for the new space,” she said.
As Prestigiacomo put up decorations on Tuesday, Sept. 5, she said she has received help from various people, and she wants to make the classroom feel positive for students whether they were looking forward to coming back to school or wishing they were continuing their summer.
“So now I just want to make it so it’s welcoming,” she said.