Huntington UFSD Prepares for First Day of Classes

The summer vacation will officially be history soon. Students, faculty and support staff are returning to classrooms with renewed optimism and enthusiasm as the Huntington School District swings back into action with high hopes for its best year ever.

Administrators and teachers will participate in two days of meetings and preparatory sessions on this coming Friday and next Tuesday before classes begin in all eight buildings on Wednesday, September 6

New textbooks, workbooks, library books, computers, SMART Boards and computer software have been shipped to buildings and readied for use by teachers and students. Numerous renovation and repair projects have been completed. New teachers have been hired to replace those who either retired or left to pursue other ventures.

The district’s new faculty members participated in orientation activities designed to help the teachers get off to a smooth start. All teachers are required to report to their buildings on Friday, September 1 for a series of meetings, but most started arriving days in advance to review class lists, arrange classrooms, organize books and lesson plans and meet informally with colleagues. Many students and parents have been stopping into schools to become acquainted with floor plans and get comfortable with the layout.

The buildings and grounds department spent the final weeks of the vacation putting the finishing touches on each building. The work included polishing hallway floors, delivering boxes of supplies to classrooms, prepping the grounds, touching up paint and setting up cafeteria tables so they are ready to accommodate an influx of 4,400 students.

Bus drivers have been making dry runs through their routes in an effort to identify any potential problems. District officials say there are typically a few snafus with bus pick-ups and drop-offs, but parents can expect them to be straightened out in short order. Parents can call 631-673-2032 to report any difficulties.

Huntington High School athletic teams have been practicing for the past two weeks with squads already participating in either scrimmages or games. Teams at J. Taylor Finley Middle School will kick-off this week.

Nurses have organized their offices and several have even begun fielding calls from parents about the needs of their respective son or daughter. Principals have made last minute schedule changes and kept close tabs on new students enrolling.

Everything appears to be in place for 2023/24 to be an outstanding year.