Lynnfield Welcomes New Academic Year

Time to bring out the backpacks, notebooks, writing utensils, and new school clothes.

Lynnfield Middle School staff and students

Stephen R. Ralston, principal at Lynnfield Middle School, offered background information about this new academic year, which began at 7:50 a.m. and ended at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

According to Ralston, 785 students will enter grades 5 to 8, ranging from 10 to 14-years old. Six to eight students left the school, and 20 students moved into town from in-state and out-of-state since last school year.

Also new this year are: a Glencoe publishing textbook series for grade 5 math, and grade 8 computer classes were extended into science, technology, engineering, and math, or S.T.E.M., focusing more on technological advances than basic typing skills.

Special education aide Courtney Delaney, for the past three years, will teach S.TE.M. Other new teachers joining her are: Kaitlin Grady, grade 5, a long-term substitute math and science teacher, who filled in for a maternity leave this spring. Anthony Arena, grade 6, also entered LMS this spring. Krista McMahon, grade 7, moved from Franklin this winter to become an English/language arts teacher. Jim McCarthy was also hired as the food service director.

"There aren't major changes to the building," he said. "It's been cleaned. There aren't any problems with the structure since it's only nine years old."

Ralston added LMS doesn't offer school sports, but for recreation, 8th-graders will travel to Cedardeale, an outing center in Groveland for their end-of-the-year field trip. Other grades will go on day trips to support their curriculum, but locations have not yet been determined.

An ice cream social was held in the LMS cafeteria Wednesday afternoon, sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Organization, to welcome incoming 5th-graders.

Sejal Saxena, 10, grade 5, explained the benefits of entering middle school.

"We have more responsibilities," she said. "We're always meeting new people, and we have a new schedule with day one and day two. It's bigger than my elementary school. It prepares you for higher things."

Although she was originally nervous, after being in school for one day, Saxena said she's already adjusted to LMS. She knows what to expect.

"I'm going to have to practice my locker combination. I see the older kids, and I wonder if I can fit in."

Cameron Greenwald, 10, grade 5, feels pressure to fit in, too, and as of the end of the first school day, hasn't yet met new friends.

So far, Greenwald, who rides the school bus, prefers LMS over a private school.

"My favorite class is gym, and my least favorite is MCAS," Greenwald said, wearing his new back-to-school clothes.

Emma Montanile, 10, grade 5, with Mrs. Lee as her teacher, is excited for the new school year.

Coming from Summer Street Elementary, she knows many peers, who also entered LMS. Montanile has also met new friends from Huckleberry Elementary.

She arrived at school on-time at 7:50 a.m., with her parents as the driver. 

"I like it here," Montanile said. "My favorite class is recess, and my least favorite is math."

Huckleberry Hill Elementary School staff

As for Hill, their day lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to Brian Bemis, principal, few students have moved out-of-town, but, like LMS, there are more than 20 new students who haved moved in-town from last year.

"The building, built in 2004, is in great shape," Bemis said. "Custodians did a fantastic job of cleaning the classrooms. All the teachers, myself, and students are excited for a new year. It's good to be back."

Similar to LMS, locations for field trips will be determined later on in the school year.

Bemis mentioned that Lynnfield Community Schools runs an after-school sports program, which is a town initiave.

"New hires are: kindergarten teachers Emily Bonnano and Tanya Anero, food services director Jim McCarthy [for the district], and 4th-grade teacher Heather McLeod."

Lori Precourt, of Lynnfield, program teacher for Before Extended Day Service, a 7 to 9 a.m. morning service, noted school times yearly switch off to accomodate bus traffic. Last year, Summer Street School began later, but this year, they start at 8:30 a.m. in order for Huckleberry Hill to began at 9 a.m.

Twenty students are in B.E.D.S.; they play in the playground (pictured) and socialize before school. "It's a great option for parents who have to be at work by 8 a.m. or so, because they can drop them off earlier," she said.