WPS event kicks off new school year for students and families

By Kaysa Jalbert

If you walk through any store this time of year, its almost guaranteed the pool floats are replaced with erasers shaped like hamburgers and where you once grabbed beach bags, it’s an array of school backpacks because the time has come to turn off the sprinklers and get the kids ready to go back to school.

Windham Primary School is hosting its annual 'Popsicles
on the Playground with Principals' for students and families
from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 and prior to that
WPS teacher will hold a classroom open house from 4:30
to 5:30 p.m. COURTESY PHOTO

Windham Primary School is hosting its annual “Popsicles on the Playground with Principals” event as a way to draw kids back into school mode, getting them excited and ready for a great year of learning, and reminding them that while summer may be over, the fun doesn’t have to end. The whole community is welcome to attend the event, which has been held every year at WPS since 2008.

“Popsicles on the Playground with Principals” will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 and teachers will hold a classroom open house from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

“It always has a positive showing,” says Dr. Kyle Rhoads, Windham Primary School principal. “Parents and students attend the open house then come outside, grab a popsicle, and have a chance to connect with anyone they haven’t seen all summer. Its also a great opportunity for kindergarteners who will be new to the school to get a tour of the building to feel more comfortable and to make connections with kids as they take off on their educational journey.”

There will be more than just popsicles and time on the playground at the event. There’s also music with DJ Dave, tours of the main areas of the school guided by staff members, pickup cards for student dismissal, and informational booths for parents.

One of the booths will have directions for the Parents Square App, a communication platform that was adopted by the school last year. This year they are offering training for families on how to use the app to make it easier and more effective for parents.

Another booth will display information about the Odyssey of the Mind program. Odyssey of the Mind is a program in which students are presented with a problem that requires an original solution. Students team up and work with an adult coach over some months of the school year to showcase their innovative solutions at the state competition in March.

WPS typically has around 50 to 75 students participate in Odyssey of the Mind each year and faces the challenge of having enough volunteers to coach the school’s teams. Any parents and community members available to volunteer their time to help coach kids through their creative problem-solving experience are needed. Odyssey of the Mind meets for about one hour every week from late fall until the competition in March.

Also continuing this year at WPS is the Foster Grandparent Program offered by the Opportunity of Alliance organization. Opportunity Alliance hires and trains seniors looking to volunteer at local schools to provide emotional and educational support to children in their classrooms. WPS usually has six to eight foster grandparents each year.

“They can be helpful to classroom teachers, also great role models for kids,” said Rhoads. “It provides a real positive opportunity and they’re all really fun.”

This fall, Rhoads said that Windham Primary School is welcoming back Trish Haffner, who used to teach at WPS until moving north with her family for some time. Now she is back in Windham and is teaching at WPS. In addition, Joycelyn Coffin will be a new kindergarten teacher at the school after serving as an intern for the past two years.

Going into this new academic year, Rhoads says he plans to bring back popular activities from last year, including the fun Family Nights and the big hit, Glow Night.

“The glow night was a huge success, with many students leaving asking if the event could happen every year,” Rhoads said. “Thinking about how we ended on such a great note last year, we are looking forward to a great start this year.”

Rhoads has served as WPS principal for 17 years and is the co-chairperson of the national organization called The Collaborative for Customized Learning.

Prior to joining WPS, he was principal of Acton Elementary School. He also worked as an assistant principal and co-director of early childhood in Auburn, as well as working as a kindergarten teacher and elementary curriculum coordinator. <