Ossining Schools Welcome 5,100 Students to New Academic Year

Ossining welcomed 5,100 students Tuesday for the first day of the 2019-20 school year.

Students said they were looking forward to learning, meeting new teachers, seeing old friends and making new ones, and more.

“I can’t wait for school,” said third-grader Nicholas Lochard as he waited with his father and 8-month-old brother outside Claremont School Tuesday morning. “I’m ready to learn.”

In addition to their backpacks filled with pencils and notebooks, Nicholas and other Claremont students carried plastic bags with supplies for the year, including tissues and paper towels.

Claremont Principal Ferzeen Shamsi and Assistant Principal Carolyn Rodgers welcomed students as they got off the school buses. “Happy First Day!” and “Can I get a high-five?” they said. Both are new to their positions; Ms. Shamsi previously was Claremont’s assistant principal.

Across the street at Anne M. Dorner Middle School, Principal Kate Mathews and assistant principals Craig Dreves, Dulce Barker and Elizabeth Mercado greeted the sixth- through eighth-graders. Ms. Mathews previously served as Claremont principal.

Superintendent Raymond Sanchez and Carrieann Sipos, director of elementary teaching and learning, also welcomed the students to a new school year. They visited all the schools throughout the day.

Friends Alicia Torres, Lana Ahmed and Brianna Cruz said they were looking forward to a great year at AMD full of opportunities to learn new things and meet new teachers and students.

School bus drivers and parents/guardians who dropped off Ossining High School students negotiated a new driveway and bus loop. The project, which was completed over the summer, improves traffic flow by having separate, one-way bus and car lanes. Vehicles enter the campus from Wolden Road and exit onto Emwilton Place.

Last week, teachers, administrators and other staff gathered at Ossining High School for an opening day event that included welcome messages from Board of Education President Lisa Rudley and other school district leaders and employees.

“On behalf of everyone on the board, I wish you a year filled with happiness and success every day and in every way,” Ms. Rudley said.

Brookside School Principal Ann Dealy thanked custodians “for welcoming us back with sparkling schools;” buildings and grounds staff for creating “beautiful landscapes” and completing many projects; school and district office staff for ordering supplies and organizing things for the school year; and teachers for learning new curriculum over the summer and beautifying their classrooms.

Dr. Sanchez told staff members last week that they are heroes, from custodians and buildings and grounds employees to clerical staff, teachers and teaching assistants.

“You are all heroes and have an impact on the lives of our children. I sincerely thank you for all that and for what you’re going to do in the coming year,” he said. “And I’m confident that as we move forward, that together we’re going to create a caring school environment where anyone can achieve their potential. Let’s have the best possible year ever.”