DERRY — Tuesday was Mary Anderson's first day of school at Pinkerton Academy — for the 36th time.
The Pinkerton Academy headmaster opened the doors to the new year, welcoming approximately 3,200 students back to the high school campus. With high hopes and hard work ahead, Anderson said she looked forward to the new year, with a few lost hours of sleep in between.
"It doesn't matter whether I was a teacher, a department head or administrator, the night before the first day I can't sleep," Anderson said. "It's the anticipation. Every year, there is something new and different."
In her eighth year as Pinkerton's leader, Anderson said she enjoys the first day, getting to campus early, watching the buses pull in and seeing the looks on the students' faces as they arrive.
Pinkerton joined the Derry School District's seven elementary and middle schools for the first day of the 2010-2011 year on Tuesday.
Teachers in Derry's schools began the new year with a rally last week honoring the longevity of staff and successes in the classroom.
This year, elementary and middle school students have 20 extra minutes added on to the school day, a move approved by the Derry School Board to enhance learning time.
Superintendent Mary Ellen Hannon spent Tuesday visiting every school in the district. It was a hot day, she said, but everyone did fine.
"It went great, very smooth," Hannon said. "And we had very few crying kindergarten children."
At Pinkerton, Robin Perrin, director of alumni affairs and relations management, agreed the word of the day on Tuesday was "smooth" as students worked their way around campus for the first time and attended classes.
Keeping student attire in check is part of the process as the new year begins. Anderson stressed all students will be aware of the school's rules on what to wear.
"We're going to really reaffirm the dress code," she said.
Although summer heat is still sizzling, it doesn't mean students can buck the dress code.
"Some of the clothes (in the past) were less than appropriate, better suited for the beach," Anderson said. "We're starting the school year off with such hot weather, it's not the best thing. But we still expect them to adhere to the dress code. But it sure is hard to enforce when the weather is nice."
Anderson said Pinkerton also will crack down on any instances of bullying this year, as the state gets ready to put a new anti-bullying law into effect in January. Although the high school already had a bullying policy in place for the past decade, it will be updated.
"We are very, very diligent for investigating all issues brought forward," she said. "We will be working very closely with Derry police."
Pinkerton's new freshman building construction is on track and should be ready for the next slate of new students in 2011, according to Anderson.
Hannon said with the exception of a few bus route glitches and one first-grader falling asleep on a bus, opening day was a success. She said student enrollment numbers for the Derry district would be finalized next week.
"It was just a happy day for us," she said. "Everyone is smiling and optimistic about the new year."
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