Dartmouth schools kick off the 2017-2018 academic year
A morning rain loomed over Dartmouth schools, but faculty were still smiling and joking with each other as students arrived for the start of the new school year on August 30.
More than 600 students came through the doors of Quinn Elementary, and were guided by faculty to their classrooms. Even Principal Kyle Grandfield helped students step off the bus in the morning.
"So far the first day has gone well," Grandfield said. "Buses came in on time and drivers said it was a smooth moving pickup."
Grandfield said faculty had a plan in place to organize where each grade would meet.
"The first day is really about getting to know each other as students and getting know their teacher," Grandfield said.
Assemblies scheduled for the next week will welcome new staff and students, and review the beliefs and expectations of the school. That includes using the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) system to highlight model behavior instead of only punishing bad behavior
"It's about teaching kindness, respect, and courage," Grandfield said. "And the key attributes to help one another."
Dartmouth Middle School Principal Darren Doane also believed that pushing the positive behavior system was a goal for the new school year.
"It's about supporting each other as students," Doane said.
Throughout the year, the middle school will have an array of celebrations to reward positive behavior within the school, he said.
"Middle school is kind of an awkward age group, so we try to navigate through that throughout the course of the year with their academics, and emotionally and socially," Doane said.
With the new year underway, Doane is excited for the school year.
"We have to make the students feel very welcome and create an inviting environment," Doane said.
Students will spend the first few days learning what their teachers expect of them, and what students would like to accomplish throughout the year.
Doane also hopes to incorporate new technologies, more professional development for teachers, and utilize the PBIS system this year.
