OXFORD – New teachers, new students and a new school will greet the thousands of children headed to classes in the Oxford Hills School District this week.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, kindergartners at Waterford and West Paris schools, and students from around the district in grades one through seven and grade nine, go back to school. All other students start Thursday, Aug. 29.
“Lots of new teachers is the biggest thing,” Rowe Elementary School Principal George Sincerbeaux said. He is preparing for his 40th and last school year before retiring next June.
Sincerbeaux said the elementary school is experiencing a bump in enrollment this year with as many as 20 new students. He anticipates 460 to 470 students at the school.
“It’s the highest we’ve been,” he said. There were 450 last June.
The third grade has the biggest increase, with class sizes up to 26 or 27 students.
Other grades have 18 students, he noted.
Sincerbeaux said the “bubble” in enrollment happens every so often.
There are no big changes this year except for the arrival of the wood pellet stove this fall, he said.
“We’re kind of excited about that,” Sincerbeaux said.
The SAD 17 Board of Directors approved replacing oil-fired boilers at Rowe school in Norway and Oxford Elementary School through a state grant this summer.
One of the largest changes in the school district is the creation of an additional middle school in a rented building on Madison Avenue in Oxford. It will eliminate overcrowding at Oxford Hills Middle School on Pine Street in Paris. Building renovations and curriculum revisions have been ongoing all summer to prepare for opening day at both schools.
At Oxford Elementary School, the welcome mat was being laid in the lobby last week with a new quartz tile that will not require stripping or waxing in the future. A special feature will be cutting the letters OES in the center of the main lobby tile.
Principal Kim Ramharter issued a statement saying, “All our staff is eagerly waiting for students to arrive. We appreciate all of the parent and community support that we receive throughout the year. We look forward to working as partners in your communities’ education.”
Ramharter also noted that Community Concepts starts its first day of school for preschool on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11. Openings are still available by calling 207-539-4456, ext. 233.
An open house for all students will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Oxford Elementary School.
For more information check websites of the eight district schools.
ldixon@sunjournal.com
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- Paul Oddi of Paul Oddi Flooring in Bridgton spent much of last week laying a new quartz tile on the lobby floor of the Oxford Elementary School. Oddi, who is subcontracted by Institutional Interiors of N.H., said the tile won’t require waxing.
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