First Day of School in Frederick County
Under sunny skies with temperatures in the comfortable 70s, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) opened all 66 schools on schedule today, the first day of the 2016-2017 school year.
Across the county, FCPS drivers safely picked up and delivered students on 343 bus routes with a 98% on-time arrival rate, according to Transportation Director Fred Punturiero. In the first few weeks of school he expects bus drivers and students will adjust to new schedules and routines. FCPS invites parents to check the following webpage for a list of buses running later than 10 minutes:
http://www.fcps.org/busdelay.
Parents, teachers, administrators and guests all over the county shared stories about FCPS’s outstanding first day.
For example, a first-grade student in Monocacy Elementary teacher Katheen Ballew’s class enjoyed an unexpected bonus this morning—a treasure box when he visited the Health Room after a loose tooth fell out during breakfast in the classroom. Ms. Ballew’s no stranger to this type of event in first grade, and the Health Room stays prepared to provide the appropriate receptacles for such treasures. Breakfast was cereal with milk, Craisins, orange juice and graham crackers.
From Walkersville Elementary: “We take care of each other by being kind.” — Tess Blumenthal. #FCPSFirstDay pic.twitter.com/0LOH9KLzos
— FCPS-MD (@FCPSMaryland) August 22, 2016
As the students finished breakfast, morning announcements came on the screen, with fifth grade “news anchors” sharing the lunch options students could choose from later in the cafeteria. Their grain/protein options are popcorn chicken with a dinner roll or a grilled cheese sandwich or chef salad platter; vegetables today are cucumber rounds, sweet corn and mashed potatoes, fruit is fresh strawberries or juice, milk options are 1% white or fat-free chocolate. Parents can download a convenient app to see daily school menu options and related nutritional content at www.fcps.org/menus.
Next came the salute to the flag and pledge of allegiance. Down the hall, Learning for Life students got reacquainted with Mo and Cy, the class parakeets. Their chirping made for a lively and inviting atmosphere in the room, where Special Education Instructional Assistant Carol Tomlinson appeared, having welcomed students who were dropped off by their parents in the car rider loop. There she saw student Alyah blow a kiss for the day, saying, “Bye Family, I love you!”
In the next corridor, art teacher Emily Bryant prepared to welcome fourth graders on her first day at Monocacy Elementary. She has taught for six years—and still teaches part of the week—at Ballenger Creek Elementary. As the students arrived, she praised their great behavior and got them oriented to the room and processes they would use for getting art supplies and keeping their work in folders. The class began drawing birds for a collaborative project to demonstrate that “Everybirdie’s Welcome!”
The school welcomed at least two unregistered students. New Principal Troy Barnes, Assistant Principal Liz Root, Math and Reading Intervention Teacher Dori Nichols and several others cheerfully greeted each parent and student, helping them to find where they needed to go. A visitor found upon returning to her car parked on the playground that she’d locked her keys in it. An auto company came to the rescue within 15 minutes, and she was on her way after notifying nearby Physical Education teacher Stacey Whitmore just in time to see two returning fourth grade girls enthusiastically hug the teacher, clearly delighted to see her for another year.
Elsewhere in the county, Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban and Board of Education President Brad Young started the day at Middletown High School. There English teacher Desiree Denton used “memes” to liven up a discussion. They saw students in Casey Rogers’ class explore data, and students in Sharon Szpara’s math class use Pear Deck technology to respond to the teacher’s questions from their devices.
Next on their first-day visits was Middletown Middle, where sixth graders mastered opening their lockers, and students in a French class shared why they wanted to learn the language and learned that both Dr. Alban and Mr. Young had studied French. Students in Ms. Martz’s class grabbed an “envelope of science” for storing their goals. The Superintendent next joined Mr. Young and Middletown Elementary students in a flag-raising ceremony. At Middletown Primary, they were impressed with students using an “energy bus” theme, while kindergartners shared what they have already learned.
Students at Walkersville and Whittier Elementary also started the day with flag-raising events. Whittier hosted CSM Myron Geter from Fort Detrick. Walkersville Elementary Principal Tess Blumenthal reminded students that if something is difficult “keep at it because you haven’t learned it yet. You will!”
New Principal Jeneen Stewart reminded Ballenger Creek Middle sixth graders that being new is something to celebrate.
A Mount St. Mary’s University student interning at Thurmont Elementary summed up what she observed on Day 1: “They’re ready to learn.”
Superintendent Alban was impressed by what she saw across Frederick County on the first day. “Our students were ready to learn, our teachers were ready to teach. We couldn’t have had a more successful first day,” she said. “I’m so proud of everyone—students, parents, teachers, staff—who makes FCPS such a special school system.”
See photos on Facebook at FCPSMaryland and Twitter @FCPSMaryland and @FCPSMDSuper: #FCPSFirstDay
