‘New’ school year
Regardless of where you matriculate within the Granville School District this school year, a few surprises await returning students as classes begin Sept. 8.
the final summer of construction comes to a close, each building — from Mary J. Tanner to Granville Elementary School to the junior senior high school — is open and ready for students, district officials said. If any work is being completed as school starts, officials said, it will not interfere with classes in any way.
Over in Middle Granville at the Mary J. Tanner School, Principal Kristie Gijanto said the building received no modifications during the summer, so returning students will find the school much as they left it.
However, those venturing to the school for the first time will have a treat in store for them.
Through the grant that pays for the Pre-K program the school was able to purchase playground equipment specially tailored for the school’s youngest students.
Gijanto said the equipment has its own space on the playground and is set up with lower slides and smaller steps specifically for smaller students.
“We’re looking forward to seeing all of the children and their families on the first day of school,” Gijanto said.
Parents are advised to come a bit early to meet the buses on Sept. 8 as parking is typically difficult to find with so many parents at the school at one time. Gijanto said teachers will be on the bus ramp as well to help new students find their way to their teachers and classrooms.
A day earlier, on Sept. 7, parents and students entering Pre-K and kindergarten are invited to Mary J. Tanner for an orientation session from 2 to 3 p.m.
“It allows the students and the parents to meet their teacher and get familiar with their classroom so they can be more confident and more comfortable on the first day of school,” Gijanto said.
With the building project completed, the third-graders have relocated from Mary J. Tanner back to Granville Elementary School.
Principal Diane Dumas said little happened at GES with the EXCEL project this summer, so the disruption has been nonexistent. “What a simple year compared to last year,” she said.
“We just had some minor stuff in the kitchen,” Dumas said. Third-graders are back and sixth-graders return to the sixth grade wing. Other than that, Dumas said, it’s business as usual.
“We’re looking forward to a great year. It will be really nice to have everybody back and in place; now that we’re done with all the moving this should be a total piece of cake,” Dumas said.
New to the faculty at GES will be special education teachers Jessica Blanton for third grade and Ashleigh VanGelder for fifth grade, Dumas said.
While workers might be hurrying to clean up before the first day of school, EXCEL building project features will not be the only new thing at Granville Jr./Sr. High School.
“We’re really excited here, excited about the building project and the condition of all of the buildings the children will be returning to,” Superintendent Mark Bessen said.
Welcoming students for the first time will be new high school Principal Scott Bojanich along with Assistant Principal Dan Poucher.
For those who don’t recall, it’s pronounced ‘Bee-on-itch.’
“It’s like ‘be honest’ and put an ‘ich’ on it,” Bojanich said during his first interview.
The high school will welcome one new teacher this year, Spanish teacher Crystal Kirk.