They are back and ready to welcome your children to our buildings, classrooms, and fields tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 5!

Early today, Tuesday, Sept. 4, Minisink Valley’s faculty and staff filed into the middle school cafeteria amid hugs and cheers for the Opening Day of the 2018-19 school year. They enjoyed their reunion over breakfast, before gathering in the school auditorium for the Superintendent’s Conference.

Superintendent Brian C. Monahan offered thanks to the district’s workforce, with a special mention for buildings and grounds, transportation and technology teams, administrative staff, and everyone who gave part of their summer to engage in curriculum work and professional development.

Following the introduction of all district and building administrators, Mr. Monahan invited faculty and staff to look back at the many achievements and highlights of the past school year, before looking at new opportunities and exciting changes in the year ahead.

Looking at 2018-19, students will benefit from the continued expansion of K-5 enrichment programs; the development of science labs for grades 3-5; a new yearbook course and two new Syracuse University courses at the high school; and the reinstatement of freshman football. In the area of technology-integrated learning, the district is adding Promethean boards to all schools and will begin the rollout of the 1:1 Device Initiative. An additional professional development coach and three new technology staffers will help support these significant technology upgrades. Capital Project construction will resume in the summer of 2019.

Turning to the district’s number one priority—the safety and security of the school community—Mr. Monahan announced a partnership with Mount Hope Police and the County Sheriff’s Office to place a dedicated law enforcement agent at every school building. This is in addition to school security staff and the continued presence of New York State Police. Representatives from all three law enforcement agencies were present at the Opening Day event, including County Sheriff Carl DuBois. (More details to come on Minisink Valley’s new Student Resource Officers program.)

During the conference, the district welcomed 16 new faculty and 33 new staff members. Employees celebrating their 25th anniversary in Minisink Valley, and those with 35 or more years of service were recognized to the applause of hundreds of colleagues. Karen Krogslund, a first-grade teacher at Otisville Elementary, is the longest serving employee, at 47 years.

As a testimony to the difference teachers can make in the lives of students, Mr. Monahan closed by reading a letter penned by an intermediate school student, asking the Superintendent to recognize her fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Marcolina, for teaching so much more than curriculum lessons.

The backdrop for the student’s letter was an image of Nelson Mandela and his words, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Best wishes for a great school year to all!