Teachers and district staff kicked off the 2015-16 school year on Monday, August 24, at a convocation held at Newtown High School.

Town board members and elected officials were also in attendance at the event, which highlighted teachers and district staff.

“Welcome everyone,” said Board of Education Vice Chair Laura Roche near the start of the event. “On behalf of the Board of Education, I’d like to welcome you to the 2015-16 school year.”

Ms Roche also said the school board members hope each district teacher and staff member had a “wonderful, peaceful, and relaxing summer spending quality time together with family and friends.”

Ms Roche also thanked the district’s administrative team, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, secretaries, nurses, and custodians for their work.

As the school year begins, Ms Roche said the school board’s commitment to the assembled school district members is “constant.”

“On behalf of the board, I’d like to wish everyone a successful and rewarding year,” Ms Roche said. “We know how lucky our students are to have such a talented and devoted staff.”

Ms Roche also thanked Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr.

“The board appreciates the long hours he puts in, and his endless passion to make this district the very best it can be,” Ms Roche said before wishing everyone present a “great first week.”

When it was her turn to speak, First Selectman Pat Llodra gave a “shout-out” to all of the educators she worked with while serving as interim principal at NHS in the 2004-05 school year.

“I am so proud of this school and of this district, and I am happy that I had that personal experience,” said Mrs Llodra.

The first selectman then shared a “happy new year” message, saying she knows the 2015-16 school year will be full of achievements, successes, celebrations, hard work, sacrifices, and challenges.

Mrs Llodra said that her presence at the convocation event shows the town and the school district “are in this together.”

“Our community is only as strong and as successful as our public schools,“ said Mrs Llodra. “Excellence in education stands paramount with all the core values in Newtown that we hold so dear.”

The work of the assembled district educators and staff, Mrs Llodra said, is valued.

“Thank you teachers and administrators for the work that you do every day,” said Mrs Llodra.

Newtown Federation of Teachers President Tom Kuroski also spoke at the event, thanking Dr Erardi for bringing the assembled educators together and thanked the administrators, secretaries, paraeducators, nurses, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and everyone working in the district, “for helping us teach our students... We couldn’t do what we do without each of you every day.”

Mr Kuroski later said, “Seeing the entire school community along with all the local leaders come together to start the school year really helps to establish the sense of togetherness that is hard to match.”

NHS Principal Lorrie Rodrigue honored Lisa Narayanan during the event for being named Newtown’s Paraprofessional of the Year last May.

Ms Narayanan, Dr Rodrigue said, has made an impact on both learners and staff at NHS.

“What truly defines [Ms Narayanan] is her quiet competence,” said Dr Rodrigue, “love of education, helping to aid and support the environment in which students can learn, but, most importantly, her positive attitude.”

Dr Rodrigue said her school community was further “excited and proud” after recently learning that Ms Narayanan had been chosen as a state finalist for the Paraprofessional of the Year award.

Middle Gate Elementary School Principal Christopher Geissler also spoke about and introduced Newtown’s Teacher of the Year, Middle Gate music teacher Tina Jones.

A recorded telephone call from June 17, when Mrs Jones learned of her award, was played for the assembly. According to a slide show for the event, when she received the call, Mrs Jones was leaving the hospital with her newborn son Brady in her arms. Both Brady and Mrs Jones’s husband Mike were present for the convocation event on Monday.

Mrs Jones said the award was an honor before she dedicated it to all of the attendees at the convocation.

Some of her favorite words, Mrs Jones said before sharing her beliefs behind each of them, are “inspire... believe... and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

So many people inspire her, Mrs Jones said, including her fellow educators and her students.

“I believe we, Newtown Public Schools, need to be known for the positive not the sadness,” said Mrs Jones. “Instead honor the victims and believe that we can help the whole world in this goal together by way of the ripple effect. We need mental health awareness. We need our students to know that we believe in them, and teach them how to be kind. One small act of kindness can cure a lonely heart.”

Mrs Jones also shared a quote from Walt Disney, “Keep moving forward,” before she emphasized the importance of kindness.

Dr Erardi was the final speaker for the convocation. The superintendent said challenges may face the teachers from a number of different areas over the coming year.

“Our challenge in Newtown is to lead with the art of teaching,” said Dr Erardi, “and allow the mechanics to guide the work, not to govern the day.”

The superintendent thanked the individuals at the convocation for their efforts, including the Board of Education members and the district’s “1,000 employees who return with students on Thursday.” He also thanked the community and community leaders like Mrs Llodra.

“I believe that everything, absolutely everything, is doable with a thoughtful approach and hard work,” Dr Erardi said.

Dr Erardi said he in convinced the 2015-16 school year will be an extraordinary year for the educators and the students.

The convocation, Dr Erardi continued later, represented a “brand-new season, a new beginning, a new opportunity, a new influence, a new challenge, and quite honestly, I love my team.”

In closing, Dr Erardi said, “I dare you to have your absolute best school year.”

A number of district employees were also celebrated during the event for serving the school district for more than 25 years. People highlighted for their years in the district were Peggy Annett, Toni Baranowski, Sally Cox, Jim Delgado, Mark DelGobbo, Joanne Didonato, Nancy Fraczek, Barbara Halstead, Tim Hart, Bob Hein, Mike Hoyt, Kathy June, Karen Pelletreau, Dennis Petty, Mimi Riccio, Beverly Schaedler, Christine Shanchuk, Wayne Sherwood, Linda Van Tassel, and John Verbanic, Jr.