New faces for youngsters at Kent Center School

KENT —With their backpacks filled with school supplies, about 280 students strode, slumped and hopped into Kent Center School on Tuesday, Sept. 2, ready for a new year and new learning experiences.

Though the students have had the summer off, school staff have been busy for the past three months preparing for the coming year.

Principal Rima Zelvis is a new face to students this year; she was hired to replace Ron Viafore, who moved out of state with his family at the end of the last school year.

There are new teachers and staff in the building as well. Megan Pastre (daughter of Sharon Center School teachers Mark and Joanne Pastre) will teach preschool, Claudia Parsons will teach special education, Joyce Esposito is a special education aid, Lesley Gyorsok is a reading assistant and Tamra Harris will greet the students each day as a cafeteria worker.

Zelvis said she is looking forward to helping run things at Kent Center School and has been preparing as much as possible for the new school year.

“I’ve been attending professional development, assisting with Open House for kindergarten and preschool and meeting new staff members and parents,â€� she said of her busy summer.  “I have also been planning activities, such as the Nature’s Classroom trip for the seventh-grade students.â€�

The new academic season kicked off with a First Day Celebration.

“That included parents bringing their kids into the classrooms to look at the rooms and meet the teachers,� explained Zelvis. “Then the parents joined me and other staff members in the cafeteria for a welcome back get-together.�

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