New Johnson School Principal Kevin Andrews talks to Callie Fiore, an incoming second-grader, and her mother, Heidi. Photo by Paula Muller
By Bridget Turcotte
NAHANT — Teachers and staff at the Johnson Elementary School bonded with students over slush and sunshine.
Kevin Andrews, the new Johnson Elementary School Principal, and Anthony Pierantozzi, the town’s new Superintendent of Schools, held a playground meet-up to get to know parents and students.
With school beginning on Wednesday, more than half of the school’s 10 teachers joined the event to meet their future students.
“I think this is awesome,” said Blythe Purdin, the kindergarten teacher. “We want to make people feel like the school is part of the community. It’s a great initiative.”
Andrews said they organized the meet-and-greet, which is the second this summer, to help parents and children feel comfortable with the new administration.
“We want to make sure we’re welcoming and communicating with the community,” he said. “About 20 percent of our parents are here today. A lot of the kids, it’s the first time meeting them.”
Sadie Bell, 6, showed a lot of enthusiasm about the upcoming school year.
“I got a new dress and a second dress in case I spill on it,” Bell said. “And a strawberry Shopkin keychain to go on my backpack.”
Bell added that first graders get to do many arts and crafts activities and learn a lot of new things.
Reagan Duane, a kindergartner, said she’s excited to expand her book collection beyond the princess books she likes and the truck books she reads with her little brother, Herbie.
“I want to go, so I can play and I can learn how to read,” she said.
Her mom, Sarah Duane, works in education and felt it was important to meet the new principal before school starts to improve communication.
Pierantozzi said he’s met a handful of students who stopped by with their parents, but Tuesday’s gathering was the first time he met them in a group.
“My goal for this year is to get to know the cultures and be sensitive to the history and past practices, yet, at the same time, go on a path of continued improvement,” said Pierantozzi. “This is my fourth superintendency. They’ve all been a little different.”
Pierantozzi was superintendent in the city of Somerville, the Dennis-Yarmouth school district and the Odessa-Montour district in New York. He has worked as a principal for the Ithaca, N.Y., school district and as dean of students for Barnstable public schools.
“We want to take the culture of the environment into the school and also take the school into the environment,” he said. “More activity outside, maritime life, boating. More examples of subject matter relating to the culture of Nahant.”
On Thursday, Sept. 1, at 9 a.m., the school will hold its annual flag raising ceremony and recite the Pledge of Allegiance together for the first time, Andrews said.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.