The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Heading back to class
Students learn the ropes in annual orientation
TORRINGTON — Questions echoed down the hallways at Torrington High School Thursday as freshmen asked each other directions to classrooms they couldn’t find.
It was orientation day, and the class of 2022 had to learn to navigate through three floors in two buildings to locate their destination. By the end of the day, with help from members of the student council, the new students had, at least, a general idea of how to find their history or science class.
“They got a sense of placement for their classes,” said senior Caroline Kearney. She and about two dozen other students, from the sophomore class on up, volunteered to help the newcomers make sense of the sprawling building.
When it was time for lunch, the freshmen headed back to the cafeteria, and the layout seemed more familiar. “Once we were back here, it started to click in,” said senior Alyssa Kreuzer.
Assistant Principal Robin Ledversis said the incoming freshmen class has about 20 more students than were enrolled in 2017 This year, it’s approximately 240 freshmen compared to 220 freshmen last fall, she said. The enrollment increase “is very positive,” Ledversis noted.
When school begins Wednesday , new students will find plenty of support.
“They can ask anyone in the hall. We don’t want them to feel alone,” said Melissa Tran.
Nervousness about changes is also a concern for the soon-to-graduate seniors.
“We don’t know where we will be living next year,” said student council member Jessica Power.
Other student council members chimed in about their reaction to attending their last year of high school.
“As we get older, working is a big thing. We have to save,” said Danny Scheerer.
“We find out what college we’ll go to,” said Alyssa Maraia. And her classmate Emma Mercogliano noted, “We can have fun, but people shouldn’t underestimate how stressful
it is.”
After another round of tours and a wrap-up of the day, it was time for the new students to head home. About a half-dozen school buses were lined up, ready to transport the freshmen home from high school for the first time.
“The routes are a little different this year,” said bus driver Kyle Bougie. He said the drivers will now follow a “sister school” route.
The route changes, according to the Torrington Board of Education’s website, will result in consolidation of bus stops, with students from Torringford and Forbes schools sharing one bus and Forbes and Vogel students riding together to their respective schools.
The new bus routes, Bougie said, should take from 30 minutes to no more than an hour to complete. He works for All Star Transportation, the district’s contracted bus company.
Winchester schools also start their school year Wednesday. The district’s new teachers gathered Thursday at the central office in Town Hall for the first of a twoday orientation. The opening day agenda included instruction on student records software, scientific research-based interventions, discipline and professional development.
Friday’s orientation will be held at Pearson School, where the new staff will be introduced to the district’s curriculum and instruction models. The group will also tour the school and begin to move into their classrooms.
New employees for the 2018-19 school year were introduced at the Aug. 14 Winchester Board of Education meeting.
According to the board’s minutes, they are: Pre-k, Mary Sue Hinks and Kishana Pinnock; kindergarten assistants, Jessica Seymour, Sheryl Dorie and Barbara LeFrancois; kindergarten, Kaitlin Fasino; first and second grade, Samantha Carpinello, Katie Cimmino and Chiara DeBisschop; special education, Rebecca Daddona; paraprofessionals, Monica Namey, Gigette Ursone and Kristy Stearns; behavioral technician, Alexis Calder, climate control officer, Matt Fadziewicz; speech and language, Nicollette Kovacs and interventionists, Justina McGuire, and Sherry Artruc.