By Penny Leuthard, Staff writer

 

With the first day of classes coming up  Wednesday, Clearview Elementary School is ready for the new school year with 20 new staff, goal setting conferences and family events.

“I’m excited for the school year,” said Principal Sheri Rutar. “Even though we have so many new people it’s regenerating. They’re excited to be here and they bring new talent with them.”

“We’ve got some new families enrolled, too, so that’s also exciting.”

Rutar’s entire office staff is new this year and have been working with her to get things done.

“Josie and Deborah have been doing a great job,” she said.

Clearview has already held one goal-setting conferences day with students and their parents, with a second being held Tuesday. Goal-setting conferences allow parents, teachers and students to have conversations regarding each child’s individual strengths, interests, friendships and academic and social goals, and help give teachers a focus area to foster growth and student achievement.

“It gives families private time to meet with their child’s teacher and the teacher to meet the family,” said Rutar. “It’s been really fun to see families coming back with smiles on their faces.”

There are a lot of fun events happening at Clearview during the first month of the new school year. The PTA is hosting its first family event, Dazzling Dave and his yo-yos, the evening of Sept. 27. The school’s Walk-A-Thon will be kicked off Sept. 21, with the actual event being held Oct. 5. The first Clearview Forest meeting of the year will be held Sept. 12 at 5 p.m., and is open to anyone interesting in volunteering with its restoration.

Kindergarten Meet & Greet, which is held to give kindergarten families time to get to know other families whose children are also attending kindergarten at the school, will be taking place in late September.

Clearview’s PTA has been meeting all summer to plan programs and events. Their goal this year is to host a family event each month.

“That was fun to plan,” said Rutar. “It gets everyone in the Clearview community involved, parents, students and staff.”

The school has also been working to add more bilingual signage throughout the building.

“I always like when the kids come back,” Rutar added. “It just adds so much character when they’re here. We’re ready for them. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it.”