FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
First day of school at Red Mill — new students, new principal
EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. » Thursday marked the first day of school for many students in Rensselaer County, and at Red Mill Elementary School, Principal Helen Squillace wanted to make sure kindergarteners felt welcome on their big day. After all, it was her first day of school, too.
Squillace has stepped into the role of Red Mill principal after serving for many years as director of pupil services and special education for the East Greenbush School District. She succeeds Principal John Caporta, who retired at the end of the 201819 school year.
“Working in the East Greenbush school community as director of pupil services and special education for the past 14 years has
been so rewarding,” Squillace said. “I am honored to continue my work in the district as Red Mill’s new principal.”
The first students to arrive at Red Mill were those enrolled in the Questar BOCES program. Their schedule is offset from the rest of the school, to prevent traffic jams at arrival and pick up times with all of their buses. Red Mill Elementary School has three district-based classrooms to meet the needs of Questar students.
Also at school early were the students enrolled in before- school care. Students played at various stations set up around the cafeteria, including working on “All About Me” information and a kindness tree of helping hands.
Buses for the rest of the students began pulling up to the school around 8:45 a.m. Faculty members were on hand to welcome the students with smiles and enthusiasm.
Kindergarten students were helped off their buses first and escorted into the cafeteria, which the beforeschool students had already cleaned up, where they met their teachers. Each kindergarten teacher sported a gray “Kinder- Crew” Tshirt, making them easy to identify.
First and second grade students were next off the buses and escorted into the gymnasium where they sat by class and waited for their teachers to greet them. Finally, the third, fourth, and fifth grade students got off the buses and headed straight to their classrooms.
Just before 9 a.m., everyone was safely arrived and sorted by class. The kindergarten, first, and second graders lined up and walked with their teachers to their new classrooms. School started at 9 a.m. and everyone at Red Mill Elementary School settled in for the start of the 201920 school year.
“Today was the best, seeing all the excited faces of our new and returning students!” Squillace exclaimed. She is very optimistic and confident about the coming school year.
“Red Mill has a great team of teachers and staff, and the community here is very supportive and engaged in the school initiatives,” she commented. “I want to continue the excellent practices we have in place and build upon the opportunities and experiences our students have. My goal is for all of our learners to achieve their very best.”