By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
Friends reuniting, lockers slamming, pencils scribbling assignments all mark the sounds of the annual hustle and bustle of the first day of school.
Yesterday was an exciting day for the schools in Princeton, Montgomery and West Windsor-Plainsboro, as each district welcomed both new and familiar faces back into its classrooms.
And while there was certainly a whirl of energy that only a first day of school could generate, each district confirmed everthing went off without a hitch.
Princeton greeted its incoming students for the first time as Princeton Public Schools instead of Princeton Regional School District in anticipation of consolidation in January. “We had a great opening for students in all the schools,” said Princeton Superintendent Judy Wilson. “Within a half hour our students were settling in with their wonderful teachers and getting started on their new learning adventures.”
This year marks a record enrollment for both the incoming freshmen and pre-kindergarten in addition to 34 new faculty members.
Ms. Wilson added that by today, the necessary tweaks to bus routes and minor adjustments to a few student schedules would be made.
In Montgomery, new Superintendent Nancy Gartenberg’s first day of school was also a success. Ms. Gartenberg visited each of the district’s schools and confirmed each was off to a fantastic start.
”Students and teachers were incredibly enthusiastic as they entered the halls,” said Ms. Gartenberg. “Smiles were visible everywhere at all schools and excited conversations were heard as students greeted each other after the summer break.”
She added that she was a witness to a smooth operation of the hour-long lunch period at Montgomery High, where the whole school eats at the same time.
Ms. Gartenberg will be attending tonight’s opening football game, where the Cougars will face Ridge. During half-time, attendees can watch as Ms. Gartenberg gives a live interview.
The principals in Montgomery were busy meeting students and holding welcome back assembles often stressing respectful interactions and relaying safety information for the new school year.
Over at Village Elementary School, Principal Susan Lacey described the atmosphere as “very happy, very upbeat and festive.”
The schools incoming third graders were quickly settled in and were already familiar with the building and their classes, thanks to the spring orientation and the Sept. 5 open house.
Ms. Lacey said the teachers spent the day giving tours to the students and having them complete assignments that fostered a sense of a community.
She explained that the students started off with the school’s daily “morning meetings” where students sit in a circle and get to know each other better.
”It’s especially important on the first day because they learn each others’ names and play games to learn who we are as a community,” said Ms. Lacey. “There’s a lot of community and friendship building on the first day.”
Lower Middle School Principal Mike Richards said his school’s first day “went incredible well.”
”I get the impression they love being here you’d think they were coming to Disney World,” he added with a laugh. “I try to convince them to look at it as I invited them and 400 of their closest friends to a party.”
In West Windsor-Plainsboro, bus transportation for more than 9,000 students suffered no complications. Students arrived already well acquainted with their classroom teacher assignments, bus information and school schedules, thanks Infinite Campus, the district’s online student information system.
”This information was disseminated to everyone at the end of August and was very successful a ‘green’ initiative,” said Gerri Hutner, director of communications.
Michael Zapicchi, the principal at High School North, said Sept. 6 felt like everyone was already back in the swing of it right away despite changes on the school’s new parking arrangement.
The school had moved the student parking lot from near the football field to where the buses used to park.
”As the number of student drivers has gotten larger, their driving has become a little questionable so we decided to cut down the travel distance to the parking area,” explained Mr. Zapicchi. “It went very smooth they did great.”
The halls were filled with new freshmen worried about finding classrooms and opening lockers and upperclassmen seeing old friends, meeting new teachers and learning new procedures.
For the school’s staff and students, it was no surprise the first day was full of excitement. To them, it marked a special kind of “new year.”
”We say ‘Happy New Year’ because people who spend their lives in schools their New Year’s Day is really today,” he explained. “And today was a really happy New Years Day.”

