Matt Frye/Sun Gazette Southeast Elementary School principal Diane Simpson introduces herself to second-grade teacher Rachel Bergin on the first day of school Aug. 13. It was also Simpson’s first day in her new building with staff and kids, after heading up Union Chapel Elementary for four years.
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
First-day butterflies for students, staff
By Ray Weikal
Things that Diane Simpson, Southeast Elementary School’s new principal, had to worry about on the Aug. 13 kick-off of classes for the 2008-2009 academic year: roughly 500 students and their parents, 42 staff members, and a 45-foot, mulch-filled tractor-trailer backing into her employee parking lot.
In the best of situations, the first day of school is a stressful ballet for any building principal to choreograph. Simpson, though, had some extra things on her mind.
For one thing, Simpson is new to the school. She spent four years as Union Chapel Elementary School’s principal, and before that was an assistant principal at Congress Middle School. Still, Simpson said, being new to a building has its challenges.
“I’m starting kindergarten here, too,” she joked. “I want to introduce myself to students and talk to them, so that they can know who I am,”
Simpson’s own first-day feelings helped her connect with students, she said.
“My goal for today is to make every student feel welcome, feel safe,” Simpson said. “Today is about building relationships. I tell them, ‘you’re new at Southeast, just like me.’”
Here’s something else that was on Simpson’s mind that first day: she has no permanent office.
Over the summer, several district buildings got reworked, safer entrances and main offices with money from a 2006 no-tax-increase bond issue. Simpson’s office and her school’s main entrance, however, won’t be finished until about November, according to district officials.
“The overall goal of the construction is to enhance the building and enhance safety,” Simpson said. “We want to make sure that that’s communicated. It does not at all impact the instruction that goes on.”
The on-going work has had some impact on Simpson, though. She was all set up in a room for her first staff meeting when workers began tearing out some walls and windows. That morning, Simpson said, became an object lesson in why educators need to adjust to changing situations.
“Though we plan for so many things, there are so many things we cannot plan for,” Simpson said, laughing. “I talked about the need to be flexible.”
Terri Daly, a fifth-grade teacher, was one of those staff members who got to hear Simpson’s homily. The first day of school is important because students are introduced to the rhythms and rules of class, said Daly, an eight-year classroom veteran.
“It sets the tone with your class and establishes the procedures,” Daly said.
The first day of school went very well at Southeast Elementary School, despite and even in some cases because of all the extra distractions, Simpson said.
“This is always the day that you evaluate all the work you did this summer,” she said. “I will sleep very well tonight.”
Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or rayweikal@npgco.com.
printable version
e-mail this story
In the best of situations, the first day of school is a stressful ballet for any building principal to choreograph. Simpson, though, had some extra things on her mind.
For one thing, Simpson is new to the school. She spent four years as Union Chapel Elementary School’s principal, and before that was an assistant principal at Congress Middle School. Still, Simpson said, being new to a building has its challenges.
“I’m starting kindergarten here, too,” she joked. “I want to introduce myself to students and talk to them, so that they can know who I am,”
Simpson’s own first-day feelings helped her connect with students, she said.
“My goal for today is to make every student feel welcome, feel safe,” Simpson said. “Today is about building relationships. I tell them, ‘you’re new at Southeast, just like me.’”
Here’s something else that was on Simpson’s mind that first day: she has no permanent office.
Over the summer, several district buildings got reworked, safer entrances and main offices with money from a 2006 no-tax-increase bond issue. Simpson’s office and her school’s main entrance, however, won’t be finished until about November, according to district officials.
“The overall goal of the construction is to enhance the building and enhance safety,” Simpson said. “We want to make sure that that’s communicated. It does not at all impact the instruction that goes on.”
The on-going work has had some impact on Simpson, though. She was all set up in a room for her first staff meeting when workers began tearing out some walls and windows. That morning, Simpson said, became an object lesson in why educators need to adjust to changing situations.
“Though we plan for so many things, there are so many things we cannot plan for,” Simpson said, laughing. “I talked about the need to be flexible.”
Terri Daly, a fifth-grade teacher, was one of those staff members who got to hear Simpson’s homily. The first day of school is important because students are introduced to the rhythms and rules of class, said Daly, an eight-year classroom veteran.
“It sets the tone with your class and establishes the procedures,” Daly said.
The first day of school went very well at Southeast Elementary School, despite and even in some cases because of all the extra distractions, Simpson said.
“This is always the day that you evaluate all the work you did this summer,” she said. “I will sleep very well tonight.”
Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or rayweikal@npgco.com.