Elwood Kicks off the School Year

Students and staff in the Elwood Union Free School District returned to the classrooms Tuesday to kick off the 2016-17 school year.

Elwood Middle School staff provided students with a first day full of team-building activities to bring the school together and start the year off on a positive note. Students participated in a variety of social bonding activities that included Fast Friends, “getting to know you” Bingo and a penny drop relay. Principal Dr. Hugh Gigante found the day to be a huge success.

“Having the opportunity on the first day of school to really sit and talk with students was very powerful,” he said. “We liked how placing students of all grade levels in the same team worked and we hope to continue this initiative throughout the school year.”

Kindergartners at Harley Avenue Primary School began their first day later on in the day. Students gathered in the school cafeteria where they met their classmates and colored pictures. Kindergarten is a year of many new experiences and the students were excited.

“I love to go on the bus because at my last school I used to only go on them for trips,” said kindergartner Miles Boremski.

Harley Avenue Primary School held a “Meet and Greet” to get teachers and student family members better acquainted before the students headed into their classrooms.

Story by Syntax, Photos courtesy of Elwood Union Free School District:

1. Harley Avenue Primary School student Paige Karafiol colored a picture with her kindergarten class on Elwood’s first day of school.
2. Harley Avenue kindergartners smiled on their first day of school on Sept. 6.
3. Elwood Middle School eighth graders prepared to start a game of Fast Friends.
4. Students Yarlynne Rosa-Cancela (left) and Miles Boremski (right) were excited to start their first year of kindergarten.
5. Students at Elwood Middle School formed a circle in the school gymnasium before starting a game of Fast Friends.
6. Family members attended Harley Avenue’s “Meet and Greet” on Sept. 6 to meet their child’s teacher.