Branford Public Schools (BPS) greeted its teachers with an energetic Opening Day event on Wednesday, August 24 at Branford High School (BHS) that is hoped to set the tone for the school year.

“I’ve always thought about the energy of the first day — how we can capture that and carry that through the school year,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony Buono, who oversaw the morning’s events. The assembly was taped for the public and can be viewed at www.branford.k12.ct.us

Eight new teachers and one new administrator were hired by BPS this summer to fill open positions, including a new Assistant Principal at BHS, Stephanie Byrd, arriving from North Branford High School where she was an English Teacher and Student Council Advisor. Byrd interned in the BHS English Department in 2001, noted BHS Principal Lee Panagoulias Jr.

Board of Education (BOE) Chairman Michael Krause greeted the teachers, saying they should feel “proud and privileged” to be teaching in “...one of the best school districts in the state.”

“Most importantly, each and every one of you has the opportunity to educate 3,000 students and prepare them to take on whatever their future endeavors may be,” said Krause.

Krause said the BOE will continue to “...strive to provide you with resources you need to achieve those goals. And remember — it is our job to make sure every child is educated and succeeds to the best of their ability.”

One of the newest resources teachers have in Branford this year are new laptop computers, issued to each teacher on August 24 by BPS. The new computers are being leased for a three-year period.

Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez also noted that this year, every WIS student will have an assigned Chrome Book, as part of a technology plan which has been rolling out in the district.

“The fact that we were able to do this over the course of four years is pretty significant,” said Hernandez.

In visiting middle schools as part of the WIS Next Generation School Building Committee, “I speak to principals, and one of the questions I always ask is, ‘...what would you do if you had a Chrome book or a device for every student in your school?’” said Hernandez, adding the administrators answer, “I would love it.”

“That is something that we, as a district and a Board and a community, have supported. And now, it’s up to us to utilize that appropriately to really augment and integrate with the education process,” Hernandez told the teachers.

One resource that won’t be immediately available to BPS this year will be the use of the BHS turf field, due to delays in installing the track. The original expectation was work would be complete in mid-August following this summer’s removal and replacement of the turf football field behind the school building. Now, the field and track will be out of commission through the month of September and should be open by the first of October, said Hernandez (see related article here ).

There were also plenty of district highlights for Hernandez to share on August 24, including serving over 20,000 free summer breakfast and lunch meals in an eight-week period this students at schools including BHS, Tisko Elementary and Murphy Elementary. The district’s continued efforts to support Pre-K opportunities in the schools have brought the number of open seats from 32 a few years back to now over 100.

“Giving children early experiences is critically important,” said Hernandez, adding that, should future needs bring universal Pre-K to the district, “...we have positioned ourselves so that when that wave does hit, we have a well-established program.”

At the other end of the educational spectrum, Hernandez pointed to new additions of Advanced Placement classes which came on-line at BHS last year, as well as training more teachers to provide Early College Experience classes at BHS.

In greeting the gathering of educators on August 24, Hernandez told them, “I remember my first year speaking to the staff here, and how nervous I was; and I have to tell you that nervousness still remains (and) I hope it remains. Because every time I do this, I think about the importance of us coming together, and the important work that you do for our children.”