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West Hartford Students Head Back to School

Charter Oak International Academy Principal Juan Melián greets a student before the start of the first day of school. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

The 2016-2017 school year began on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in West Hartford.

Parents photograph their kids on the playground before the first day of school at Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Parents photograph their kids on the playground before the first day of school at Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

The beginning of a new school year means new pens and pencils, new notebooks, and often new backpacks, clothes, and shoes, but for the 450 students at West Hartford’s Charter Oak International Academy, it also means a brand new building.

The excitement on the Charter Oak playground, where students, teachers, and families waited on the newly-painted compass rose for the traditional opening day ceremony to begin, was contagious.

The opening day ceremony was student-centered, and the school’s official dedication will be held in October because administrators wanted the first day of school to be focused on the kids. Isaiah led the pledge of allegiance in front of the new flagpole. Faith, another student, told the crowd that “today is a day of history.”

Faith said that the school building was not totally complete, and would not be until the students go inside. “When students fill it with laughter, love, and knowledge … that will be when the school is complete,” she said.

“It’s always exciting, but this year is truly very, very special,” Charter Oak Principal Juan Melián told the school community. The school is going to fulfill everyone’s expectations as place the town can be proud of, where magic happens.

“Our passion is to develop internationally-minded students,” Melián said – caring students who “get it” and love to ask questions and take action in the community. He told the students to explore the new building, to find their favorite spaces.

Lara and Sean Zier live in Bishops Corner, but made the decision to transfer their 4-year-old daughter, Harper, from a private preschool to Charter Oak.

“This was a big decision for all of us. We really researched Charter Oak, and liked the IB curriculum and inquiry-based learning. It really seemed engaging,” Lara Zier said.

“I’m excited. A lot of hard work went into it and the school looks great inside and out,” said PTO Co-President Keith Griffin as he and his wife, Manoli Canales, waited outside with their third-grader, Christina.

Singer/songerwiter Javier Colon, a former winner of NBC’s “The Voice,” is already a Charter Oak parent and he said he was excited about the new building where his youngest child will be one of the school’s 80 pre-K students this year. He told Superintendent Tom Moore that he was pleased that some of the security measures he supported, like double-entry doors, had been incorporated into the building.

“This is exciting. It’s a great day for the kids, the staff. It’s neat because it feels like I’m fulfilling my promises to the kids and the town,” Moore said. There was plenty of input leading up to this day, with 37 community meetings about the new school, Moore said.

After attending the opening ceremony at Charter Oak, Moore said he planned to spend the day visiting the district’s other 16 schools.

After second-grade teacher Kirk Williams sang a song, a first-day tradition, the fifth-graders had the privilege of leading the procession of students and teachers into the new building.

Director of Plant and Facilities Bob Palmer said that some minor punch-list items remain for inside the building, which is to be expected. Landscaping is nearly complete, other than the return of some substantial trees that were removed for construction and housed at Westmoor Park. Those will be replanted once they become dormant, Palmer said.

Demolition of the former school building was completed as planned, but some site work to turn that area into playing fields and a parking lot won’t be complete until November, said Palmer. In the meantime, Home Depot has given permission for use of their parking lot.

Parents were invited into the Charter Oak building Wednesday morning, and the PTO had an opening day reception. Victoria and Joe Bazzano took a self-guided tour, smiling as they discovered each new area of the buidling. Victoria said she went to Charter Oak when she was in elementary school, and even though they live in the Wolcott neighborhood they wanted to send their two daughters, Bella (grade 2) and Lilly (grade 5), to Charter Oak.

“It’s beautiful, pretty amazing,” Victoria said of the new building.

“They will have a lot of good memories of Charter Oak,” Joe said – not only of the building, but of the excellent teachers and staff. “What more can you ask,” he said.

Approximately 9,500 students returned to school throughout the district Wednesday, Assistant Superintendent for Administration Andy Morrow said. Everything went smoothly, said Morrow, other than a bus transporting Bristow and Solomon Schechter Day School students that had some mechanical problems. A few other buses arrived slightly late, with drivers still learning routes and parents learning when to be at the bus stop.

For more information about what’s new throughout the district, and some details you may want or need to know, click here. For a recap of Monday’s convocation ceremony, click here.

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Charter Oak PTO Co-President Keith Griffin with his daughter, Christina. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Charter Oak PTO Co-President Keith Griffin with his daughter, Christina. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Families gather around the flagpole at Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Families gather around the flagpole at Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Javier Colon, a former winner of NBC's 'The Voice,' is a Charter Oak parent. He chatted with Superintendent Tom Moore before the opening day ceremony. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Javier Colon (left), a former winner of NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ is a Charter Oak parent. He chatted with Superintendent Tom Moore before the opening day ceremony. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

janet fournier with former student

Charter Oak teacher Janet Fournier greets a former student. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

tom moore andy fleischmann beth bye shari cantor

From left: Superintendent Tom Moore with State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, State Sen. Beth Bye, and West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor. Fleischmann and Bye were instrumental in securing state funding for the new Charter Oak building. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

bob palmer with andy morrow in front of playground

Director of Plant and Facilities Bob Palmer (left) and Assistant Superintendent Andy Morrow. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

isaiah leads pledge

Charter Oak student Isaiah leads the pledge of allegiance. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

faith gives speech

Curriculum Specialist Kirsten Sanderson holds the microphone for Faith, the student chosen to give the opening day speech. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Juan Melián

Principal Juan Melián welcomes the Charter Oak International Academy community. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

2nd grade teacher mr williams song

Second grade teacher Kirk Williams sings, an opening day tradition at Charter Oak. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

students behind teacher sign

Students wait with their classes before filing into the new Charter Oak building. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

students teachers parents enter building

Students, teachers, and parents enter the new Charter Oak International Academy building. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Juan Melián

Principal Juan Melián high-fives a student on opening day. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Charter Oak International Academy Principal Juan Melián greets a student before the start of the first day of school. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Charter Oak International Academy Principal Juan Melián greets a student before the start of the first day of school. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

first grade teacher dawn hyland with bob palmer

First grade teacher Dawn Highland outside her new classroom with Director of Plant and Facilities Bob Palmer. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

classroom

Students file into their new classrooms. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

kindergarten

Kindergarten class is set to begin at Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

bench seating in auditorium

The auditorium at the new Charter Oak International Academy building has bench seating. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

gym class underway

Physical Education class is underway on the first day of school at Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

playground and landscaping

Charter Oak International Academy. Aug. 31, 2016. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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