BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer
Matawan Avenue Middle School students re-turned to full school days last week, after a month of split sessions due to a Labor Day fire.
Students returned to full-time class schedules Oct. 25.
“We did have a successful first week of full schedule at Matawan Avenue,” Schools Superintendent Bruce Quinn said.
The school separates its students in each grade into teams, with three teams for each grade. Each team consists of approximately 105 students, Quinn said.
The school is still using a number of temporary classrooms, and one team is currently going to the Lloyd Road School, Quinn said.
“Things are working out,” Quinn said. “The kids seem to be adjusting well to it.”
The district is hoping to regain full use of the building after the students return from winter recess.
“We’re hopeful to get back into the full building probably after the winter holidays,” Quinn said. “We’re not sure it will happen, but that’s what we are hoping for.”
The fire that caused the damage was ignited around 4 p.m. on Sept. 6, just three days before school was scheduled to open for the 2004-05 school year.
The fire caused significant water and smoke damage to a large portion of the school, most of which was newly renovated as part of the district’s $38.5 million referendum.
The damage forced the district to push back the first day of school twice. The middle school finally opened its doors on Sept. 20, but due to a lack of room, teachers were forced to hold split sessions.
Up until Oct. 25, the students in grades seven and eight attended classes from 8:19 a.m. to 12:35 p.m., and the sixth-graders went from 12:39 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
The fire was labeled suspicious by the Aberdeen Police Department, which is continuing its investigation of the blaze.
The district is moving past the wrath of the fire, and getting back to normal.
“I am pleased with the feedback from the public on how the situation was handled,” Quinn said. “We are doing everything we can, and anticipate getting back to normal.”