Quaker Valley School District is back in session

Students were driven in cars, rode bicycles, cruised on scooters and walked on foot to arrive for the first day of school at Quaker Valley Middle School on Aug. 20.

“The first day is always exciting,” said Quaker Valley superintendent Tammy Andreyko as she welcomed students. “This is the best profession because we get many first days of school. It’s a gift.”

Teachers returned the week prior, she said, to finalize lesson plans and make sure their rooms were ready for the 430 students in grades six through eight, including more than a dozen new students.

Pedaling onto school property were Sewickley Borough councilman Todd Hamer, his son Tenzing Hamer and his friend Orion Wolovich. They bike to school unless it’s less than 15 degrees, Todd Hamer said. The bike racks were nearly filled and nearby sat several scooters.

“They are excited and ready to rock and roll,” Todd Hamer said.

Tenzing Hamer said the first day of sixth grade in a new building is both exciting and a little scary.

“I am not sure where all my classes will be,” he said.

Principal Anthony Mooney said the first day for sixth graders is to help them get comfortable in new surroundings. They get a tour of the school and all the students do team-building activities. It is more of a relaxed atmosphere, Mooney said.

“This is such a great day and we have wonderful support from parents,” Mooney said. “The teachers are enthusiastic and the kids are excited. There is electricity in the air for educators and students.”

Standing at the doorway were assistant principal Katy Chapman, music teacher Chad Toporski and science teacher Margot Bruno. There was music playing to create a festive atmosphere on what was a cloudy, dreary weather day. Signs read “Be a friend and Be patient.”

It was the first day for Quaker Valley Middle School math teacher Cara Myers.

“This is exciting,” Myers said. “I live in the district, so it is great to be teaching here.”

Dream team

Not far from the middle school, a group of fifth graders at Osborne Elementary School greeted the younger students. They applied to be on the Dream Team, which is part of the leadership council, and were selected by the teachers. The students and some teachers wore yellow Dream Team T-shirts.

The concept was created by school counselor Leah Lindenfelser and Sam Coulter, a special educator for fourth and fifth graders. One member of the Dream Team is fifth grader Ricki Doran. She said she wanted to be a part of it to help the other students.

“I asked them if they were nervous or excited and I told them to have a great first day,” said Doran, who, with her peer,s stood inside the school as the younger students filed in. “Some smiled. I also said if you need help anytime – not just on the first day — to come to me.”

Having the Dream Team as greeters was the idea of Osborne Elementary Principal Ben Canan. He said the students came by in the summer to help make some videos about how to behave in school. They did some training on how to be greeters.

“They are a welcome party and it gives them a sense of purpose,” Canan said. “It is an opportunity to be helpers. Some of the younger students get to see their older siblings or neighbors as part of the Dream Team. This is important for young kids.”