Public schools reopen for grades 1-12
Smiles — that’s what you saw from many parents and kids emerging from a tour of the rebuilt $20 million Thompson School.
They had come as part of a Thompson PTO picnic at Lussiano Park in late afternoon on Thursday, Aug. 22.
“Fabulous,” said Thompson parent Alan Yarborough, whose son is entering fourth grade. “Bright, inviting.”
For photos of the new school, click here >>
For other photos, including interior shots, see the Thompson PTO >>
Arlington public schools’ first-day information
The first day of school for grades 1-12 is Tuesday, Sept. 3.
First day of school for kindergarten is Monday, Sept. 9.
No school Thursday, Sept. 5.
School calendar 2013-2014
Arlington High sports-information packet
Matthew Janger is the new principal at Arlington High School
Melissa Dlugolecki is the new athletics director at AHS
He liked the building’s layout and noted that a music room and gym can be repurposed as a theater.
Marcella Hoekstra had a similar opinion about the building’s airy ambience.
She asked her daughter, Pearl, 6, who will be first grade, what she likes.
“Everything,” she said, turning away in shyness.
Vikrem Kolev, a Hardy parent, wanted to see the Thompson because day care for his son, Nikola, is nearby. He said he liked the design, the building’s towers. “It’s peaceful, warm,” he said, likely music to the ears of HMFH ArchitectsHMFH Architects of Cambridge.
The years of work on the building was done by G & R Construction.
A parent who declined to provide her name offered a less enthusiastic assessment.
She said she agreed with the subjective view her son offered. He said the building appears larger on the outside that it actually is inside.
For her own part, she said the gym and cafeteria seemed smaller than they should be, but she was happy to see more classrooms.
Principal Sheri Donovan was in the lobby organizing tours. Sixth- and seventh-grade students, who are graduates of Thompson, guided families through the building.
She wrote in an email to parents Aug. 21: “You need to know that the building still has work to be done and teachers have only recently been setting up their rooms. So, the building does not look like it will on opening day. Some teachers will actually be in their classrooms working.”
The public grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the new Thompson is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15.
This story was published Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, and updated Aug. 27 to add the time of the ribbon-cutting.
