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SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WON’T HAMPER OPENING DAY FOR REGION 15 STUDENTSMemorial Middle School Students are Urged to Use BusesDuring School RenovationsAugust 22, 2003, Middlebury/Southbury—September 2 is the first day of school in the Pomperaug Regional School District 15. Four thousand Middlebury and Southbury children will be arriving to their schools on Tuesday while teachers have been readying their classrooms throughout August. Schools are scheduled to open on time, yet construction may cause some confusion to parents and students during the first week of school. Memorial Middle School is undergoing extensive renovation to its front entryway, gymnasium, administration offices, cafeteria, and guidance area. The goals of this renovation include centering the school building around the main office and unified arts classrooms, upgrading core facilities, and adding classroom space to accommodate increased enrollment at Memorial Middle School. The majority of this construction is complete but students and parents will still see evidence of the renovation when they return to school in September. Construction is on schedule and the building should be functionally finished by Opening Day. “I strongly ask parents to have their children ride the school bus to and from school during renovation,” said John Sieller, Memorial Middle School principal. “The buses are now being routed to the back of the school, and the parents’ cars could add confusion at the pick-up and drop-off times. We will have staff members and police officers greeting the buses and guiding the students into the school. The cafeteria is undergoing some renovations and will not be ready by the first day of school. Parents should provide their middle-schooler with a bag lunch for that first week.” Memorial Middle School staff will update parents on the school’s status with flyers and maps for students to bring home, and via the school website (www.region15.org/mms). “The new parking area at Pomperaug High School will be completely paved, lined, and numbered by September 2,” said James Agostine, Pomperaug High School principal. The lower student parking lot will be ready for the approximately 235 high school seniors who applied for a parking spot. For the first week, however, seniors are advised to park in any student parking spot in the new lot until they are assigned their parking permit. At Pomperaug High School, the widened access road in the front of the school will now feature three lanes, one going into the school grounds and two leaving the campus. School administrators anticipate that this will improve traffic flow. “Buses will pick up and drop off students at the back of the school while parents can use the front driveway,” said Mr. Agostine. “Having the buses go to the back of the school will alleviate the vehicle congestion in the front of the school that we’ve seen in years past.” The teachers and staff at all seven Region 15 schools are ready for the students’ return. “It has been a fun, productive summer,” said Dr. Frank Sippy, superintendent of schools for the Pomperaug Regional School District 15. “I think the students and parents will love the improvements we’ve made. It’s going to be a great year!” |
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