Schalmont families back at Woestina Elementary for the 1st time in 15 years… does it get any better than that? ☺️
Schalmont’s first group of Pre-K families visited Woestina for the first time on Tuesday as the school reopened its doors after they were closed following the 2010-11 school year.
The visit was organized to help families see where their Pre-K journey would start and help children be more comfortable when they start school there this September.
“It’s hard to describe how amazing it is to welcome families back to this wonderful school,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas Reardon. “To hear children playing in the gym, to see all the smiles, not just from our families but our faculty and staff too. It’s just really special.”
Families enjoyed a tour of their classrooms, their library, and of course the gym, where tricycles and floor scooters awaited children. Warm smiles from teachers and staff helped reassure children as they poked around their future cubbies, desks and chairs. Freeze pops and sherbet treats were a welcome way to end their visit.
Woestina Elementary will be home to three classes of Pre-K starting this fall as Schalmont starts its program after two years of planning by our Pre-K Committee. The district hopes to expand Pre-K in the future as we monitor the costs of our first year and community interest in the program, which has been strong so far.
Many families on Tuesday remarked how great the school looks with rooms and hallways freshly painted, the gym floor redone, and the grounds so well maintained. Dr. Reardon was quick to credit the work of Schalmont’s Facilities Team, who have worked for over a year getting the school ready to reopen.
“We can’t thank our Facilities Team enough for all they’ve done to reopen Woestina,” said Dr. Reardon. “It’s a credit to [Facilities Director] John O’Donnell and his team for not only maintaining the school so well over the years but all the pride they’ve taken in the past year to once again make Woestina a special place for our families.”
We’ll have much more about Woestina in the weeks ahead, including an event for our community to see the school in August, so stay tuned! #sabrepride
