Schools across the Middle Peninsula opened smoothly Tuesday, with minor concerns about unfinished construction in Gloucester and King William counties’ schools and a few sobs from kindergartners and their mothers.
A four-classroom wing that has been added to Gloucester Intermediate School to accommodate the enrollment explosion of recent years is almost complete, said Principal Daniel V. Fary. “All we’re lacking now is carpets and permanent chalkboards,” he said. Classes were able to get under way using temporary chalkboards.
A cafeteria is is due to be completed by January, he said. In the meantime, “we have a cafeteria that’s very crowded,” Fary said.
Gloucester Intermediate started the day with 829 students, about 40 more than last year. During the course of the first day, Fary said, 16 new students appeared. He projected enrollment will top out as high as 860.
Gloucester School Superintendent Robert L. Mitchell said total enrollment for the district, the Middle Peninsula’s largest, was up to 5,373, about 120 more than last year’s first day.
At the new Acquinton Primary School in King William, classes were under way but the gym and the library aren’t finished. School Superintendent Nicholas Maschal said that about 560 students showed up at Hamilton-Holmes Elementary for third through seventh grades and 410 Acquinton for kindergarten through second grade. Acquinton was built to relieve overcrowding at Hamilton-Holmes.
“We kind of expected a few glitches, but everything went just fine,” Maschal said. The gym should be completed by October and the furniture and shelving for the library should arrive in the next couple of weeks, he said.
At Acquinton, Principal Gracie P. Hollimon said the students seemed excited about the new school. The classroom walls are colorful and the teachers have been adding their personal touches since last week, she said.
“A few kindergartners were crying in the morning, but that’s expected,” she said. “They were smiling by the end of the day.”
The only thing notable about the day in Mathews County, said School Superintendent Harry M. Ward, was a few mothers of kindergartners sniffling a bit over “giving up their babies.”
Otherwise the first day back was just like any other. “Today has been like we haven’t even left,” he said. “It was like coming back after a weekend.”
Ward said school buses ran smoothly and the only transportation problem was a dead battery that quickly received a jump.
He was encouraged by the enrollment of 1,183, which he said was the same as the end of last year. “It’s great for us because last year we started out with 65 less. It means we’re not declining any more. We’re holding tight.”
Each student brings in roughly $1,000 in state funding, so an enrollment drop would be of concern.
The West Point school superintendent stressed good attend ance and high academic performance as priority goals for students on opening day.
Jane Sheeran spoke at assemblies at the two West Point schools to inform students of a new state program recognizing commendable schools based on these two qualities.
She said students seemed receptive of the goals and eager to be back for the new school year. School officials in Middlesex and King and Queen counties also reported smooth opening days.