Expect some back-toschool surprises throughout the Capital Region.
The air has cooled, which can only mean one thing: In a few days, kids throughout the Capital Region are heading back to school.
Their friends may have grown, but for the most part returning students can expect to fall back into the familiar rhythms of school.
But every year there are a few surprises and this fall is no different. There are new animals to pet, new principals to meet and new classrooms to explore.
Most schools begin Thursday while others will open Friday or Monday to accommodate new construction or kindergarten orientation. Check your school’s website to make sure you have the correct start date. These are a few of the backto-school surprises for the coming year:
Shenendehowa School District will have installed new signs in all schools to help students find their way around. The high school will also see major changes to its cafeteria and kitchen, parking area, traffic flow and security improvements.
Salem School District recently hired a school social worker to provide health and mental wellness support. It also will provide more outlets for student to get up and move during the day, including extra outdoor recess and a new sensory pathway — an indoor obstacle course that students can hop through between classes.
Galway School District is wrapping a multiyear, $26-million capital improvement project, including a spruced-up front entrance, parking lot, art room and gym. The district hopes to have everything cleaned, polished and set up before school starts.
Corinth School District’s opening day will feature comments from Channel 13 news anchor Benita Zahn.
East Greenbush School District has adopted a second therapy dog program for Goff Middle School. The district’s therapy dog program at Bell Top Elementary has been a huge success. The district also welcomed three new principals, all internal hires.
North Colonie School District starts school Monday to accommodate campus upgrades at Shaker Junior High School, including larger lockers, roomier classrooms, modern furniture and five innovation lounges.
Berne-knox-westerlo School District’s high school has enhanced security measures, Wi-fi, a new laptop computer lab and an agricultural science center.
Bishop Maginn High School in Albany will add American Sign Language to its curriculum this year. The class will be taught by Elizabeth Burnette, a deaf American Sign Language teacher who has experience teaching children and adults.
Albany City School District will focus on attendance this year. When students arrive at Albany School of Humanities on Friday, they’ll find a new vending machine. But rather than being filled with sweet treats, it contains books. Students who demonstrate improved attendance and academic effort/growth and show kindness to classmates will earn gold tokens and get to choose their favorite book.