Hawley’s Back-To-School Lunch Introduces

New Students To District

By Larissa Lytwyn

It all started with a suggestion by a parent.

During the first day of school, August 31, lead teacher Lynda Codeghini began discussing the back-to-school transition with a parent new to the school district. “She asked us if we were doing anything special for the students new to town,” said Ms Codeghini.

While Hawley had held a warm welcome for its new families, Ms Codeghini concurred that there had not been any unique events scheduled for the new students themselves.

The parent, Ms Codeghini continued, suggested having gradewide lunches during the first or second week of school to give new students the opportunity to interact more intimately with their classmates.

“We thought it was a wonderful idea,” said Ms Codeghini. “It really shows how the education system should be — the sharing of ideas between parents and staff. It’s great!”

The number of new students to Hawley increased markedly this year, noted Principal Jo-Ann Peters. The first grade saw the largest increase.

“We had 12 new students in the first grade alone this year,” she said.

Last spring, she continued, “we were especially concerned because we had one of our teachers leaving [at the end of the school year].” While the first grade was typically comprised of five classes, this year, the grade had four. Average class size thus increased to 21 to 22 students.

“It’s larger than I would like,” Ms Peters said.

The gradewide lunches, she continued, was an excellent opportunity for new students to get to know each other.

The parent’s suggestion became a reality on the afternoon of September 7.

During each half-hour lunch period, each grade level’s four to five classes assembled in Hawley’s second floor community room. While distributing their bagged or hot lunches, Ms Codeghini and Ms Peters assembled the students’ nametags and engaged each in conversation.

The children were immediately responsive, chattering eagerly to Ms Codeghini on everything from which academic subject they liked best to offering feedback on how the school year was going so far.

“This is a very casual, very low key event,” said Ms Peters. “The aim is just to have the students get to know us, and each other, a bit better.”

First grader Sarah Bender, formerly of Danbury, said she “liked” Hawley so far. “My teacher is nice,” she said.

Fellow first grader Federica Sanchez, formerly of Bethel, talked about her native roots in Argentina.

“I am 7 years old now,” she said. “[My family] and I came from Argentina when I was 5. We lived in Bethel for a year and now I’m here.”

The outgoing little girl said she “liked people” and seems to have had no problem, so far, fitting into Hawley.

Nina Rhyins, also a first grader, is attending Hawley for the first time this year, too. “Last year I went to Fraser-Woods [Montessori] School,” she said. She said things at Hawley weren’t really that “different” from her experience at Fraser-Woods. “I like my teacher and everyone seems nice,” she said.

Halfway through lunch, Ms Codeghini took out a big paper bag filled with various “icebreaker” questions.

Students randomly picked out a question and answered it, allowing their peers a closer look at their personal interests. Questions included naming favorite movies, activities, and books.

“What is your favorite television show?” Ms Codeghini asked one student.

“Sponge Bob!” he declared without a second’s hesitation.

“Sponge Bob,” Ms Codeghini echoed. “Anyone else like Sponge Bob?”

A flurry of hands immediately sprang up.

Ms Peters laughed. “Sponge Bob is a great show,” she said.

Ms Codeghini asked Federica what her favorite “video” was. After some consideration, Federica said she liked the Harry Potter movies.

“I’ve seen the first two!” she declared proudly.

Other students said they liked Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man and The Hulk.

Favorite activities included bicycling and playing outside during recess.

As the first grade lunch wound down, Ms Peters deemed the lunch a success. “We should definitely have something like this happen again,” she said.