Branford students went back to school on Tuesday, Sept. 4 with significant bus and parent loop changes at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) and an increased number of kindergartners – up by 15 percent, district-wide, over kindergartners enrolled last year.

"Overall, we had a very successful opening, despite the very high temperatures," said Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez, speaking to Zip06/The Sound mid-day (1:30 p.m.) on Sept. 4. "The teachers were well prepared to welcome their students back, and our students came back fresh and eager -- some more than others, which is very normal."

The National Weather Service pegged Branford's heat index between 95-99 degrees on Sept. 4, with a heat advisory in effect until 9 p.m. School was in session for a full day on Sept. 4 in Branford.

Prepared District-Wide

A 2018-19 school year kick-off for all of the district's certified staff was held at Branford High School (BHS) in late August. BHS is the town's grade 9 – 12 public school.

Hernandez, Board of Education chairman Michael Krause and the president of the teacher's union welcomed back the town's public educators. The district also greeted and introduced new teachers replacing retirees from last year.

Hernandez said one very exciting indicator for the district as the 2018-19 academic year gets underway is the increase in the number of kindergarteners entering Branford Public Schools in the fall of 2018.

"We opened up another section of kindergarten at Sliney, because our kindergarten enrollment, year over year, is up 15 percent across the district. That's very exciting. It shows this is a very desirable place to go," said Hernandez.

John B. Sliney Elementary School is one of the town's three elementary schools, serving pre-K – grade 4 students. Branford's other elementary buildings are Mary T. Murphy Elementary School and Mary R. Tisko Elementary School.

"Smooth Transition" for Morning Traffic at WIS

As buses began to arrive on Sept. 4, Hernandez was at WIS to greet the town's grade 5 – 8 students coming to the front entrance of the building via the newly-configured bus loop and new parent drop off area.   WIS principal Raeanne Reynolds and her staff wore high visibility traffic safety vests as they helped direct students safely into the building. Police and crossing guards also were on-hand to direct traffic.

Branford's school bus transportation provider is First Student Inc.

"We really did not miss a beat," said Herandez. "We came back, and all the hard work of the project team, as well as the administration at the intermediate school, really supported a very smooth transition to a new process that continues to evolve. And if adjustments need to be made, those adjustments will be made. But Raeanne and her team and her staff are really to be commended for their all-hands-on approach to ensuring that smooth transition."

In the week prior to the first day of school, WIS held a walk-through orientation for parents and a 5th grade student orientation which included busing the students to and from WIS.

The district also rehearsed bringing in all of the buses needed to transport WIS students at one time, said Hernandez.

"The reason that we did that was never anticipating that all the buses would arrive at the exact same time, but if there was a case when we would need them to all arrive at the same time, what our capacity was in that driveway; and that rehearsal was very successful," said Hernandez.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AT WIS

Led by Fusco Construction project management, Phase I construction will continue at WIS during the school year, but should not disrupt the academic day, said Hernandez, who also noted the work this summer went on with "limited disruption" to the community and summer school programming, which was transitioned to other buildings.

"The construction project continues while the school is in session, and everything that's happening is on the outside of the building," said Hernandez. "There are very rare occasions when a construction worker would need to be inside the building, and anytime that happens, it's required that its coordinated with the school. We have an on-site superintendent of construction from Fusco Construction, and they have been nothing but outstanding and responsive."

Over the summer, the school's reception area was relocated to the other side of the building while construction workers pulled down a front corner section of WIS, beginning with the former Industrial Arts area, and cleared it away. Next, the site is being prepared for foundation and structural work to create the new, three story academic building which will be connected to the existing school building.

"We hope to have the footings and the foundation and structural steel up by Christmas," said Hernandez.