Verona Students Begin a New School Year

Students at F.N. Brown Elementary School were excited to meet their new teachers and use their new school supplies, but mostly they were thrilled to see their classmates and exchange stories from the summer.

Some kindergarteners were happy to recognize familiar faces from their preschools while others seemed apprehensive about embarking into uncharted territory: elementary school.

Whether excited or a little nervous, all the students waited outside the school with their new school clothes and colorful backpacks until the doors opened, marking the beginning of another school year in Verona. 

The first friendly face to greet students was crossing guard Jim Perkins, a retired New York City firefighter. Perkins, who has two grandchildren at H.B. Whitehorn Middle School and two grandchildren at Verona High School, has been a crossing guard in the district for the past 10 years.

“I start here at 8 in the morning for the early birds and I'm here until around 8:45 for the late ones,” said Perkins. “There's a lot of late ones.”

Kindergartener Reece Luftglass was excited to start at her new school.

“Some of my friends from preschool are here!” she said.

Reece and her friend James Piccirillo, another starting kindergartener, played and chased each other while parents tried to get them to slow down just long enough to take a picture.

“I'm excited about making new friends,” said James as he showed off his brand new Disney's Cars backpack.

A total of 30 kindergarteners are attending F.N. Brown this year, the smallest class in the school's history, said Principal Dr. Anthony Lanzo.

“This school year I look forward to meeting the needs of each and every student socially, emotionally and intellectually,” said Lanzo. “I also look forward to getting to know all our new students.”

“I love Verona, the students are the best” he said. “The home-school connection is very strong at F.N. Brown.”

When the doors finally opened it was time to say goodbye to parents, line up, greet their teachers and file inside to begin a new year of learning at F.N. Brown Elementary.