THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 Page 3 It’s Back to School New year greats Saugus Public Schools with a new Belmonte STEAM Academy to replace three elementary schools. Students discuss consolidation; parents unhappy about traffic By Tara Vocino S tudents across the district went back to school on Wednesday. Children and parents had mixed emotions about the consolidation of the three elementary schools – Douglas Waybright, Veterans Memorial Elementary School and Lynnhurst Elementary School – consolidating into one building: the Belmonte STEAM Academy on Dow Street. Meanwhile, many parents got frustrated after being snarled in traffic during dropoff and pickup times at the new and improved Belmonte. But the town’s top education officials are touting the new school as a key component to turning around the town’s education system. The former Belmonte Middle School underwent extensive remodeling for the new Belmonte STEAM Academy, which will provide a focused curriculum around the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. In time, officials hope that the school will provide the important groundwork for achieving new Superintendent Erin McMahon’s goal of achieving academic excellence at the Saugus Middle-High School (SMHS) levels. She said it’s her goal to see the Saugus Middle/High School in the Top 10 percent of state high schools as measured by both math and reading on MCAS in the 10th grade. Student passion is already surging in the new building. Second grader Emma Le, who came from Lynnhurst Elementary School, said the repurposed building, including the library and art center, is beautiful. “I’m excited to make new friends,” Emma said. Her mother, Stephanie, said it’s bittersweet to not see teachers and peers with whom she is familiar. “However, in the long run, I think it’s better for them,” Le said. “I think it’ll result in a more cohesive adjustment from middle to high school.” Third-grader Cole Gosselin, 8, was happy to return to Belmonte since he was on Zoom most of last year due to COVID-19. Students at the Veterans Memorial Elementary School were at Belmonte for a portion of last academic year. “I’m excited to see my teachers and friends in person,” Cole said. “I like the change.” Pictured from left to right: Fourth grade teachers Marissa Huntington, Tara Godfried and Kate Coss, 5th grade teacher Catherine Cancelliere, special education teacher Angela Pettee and physical education teacher Anthony Callahan were ready to go before 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Students across the district went back to school on Wednesday. Proud mother Aja; Hunter, 8th grade; Teaghan, 6th grade; Cadin Arsenault, 2nd grade; and grandmother Cheryll Ross His grandmother, Barbara Powers, said the change was inevitable since neighboring communities are also consolidating their elementary schools. “I like the smaller schools, because they’re more personable,” Powers said. “I guess it’s more cost-effective to stay in one building.” School traffic The district announced new start times for this academic year: SMHS begins at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m.; Belmonte STEAM Academy begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends at 2:05 p.m. and Veterans Early Learning Center opens at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. Traffic was backed up as early as 7 a.m. as parents suddenly had to navigate to a new building with hundreds of students. Described as organized chaos, parents said it will likely get better as they adjust to the new format. However, at the moment, there was a lot of tooting of horns and frustration as Dow Street was made into a one-way during dropoff hours. Parent Alicia Stoddard said it took her 20 minutes to get home from Belmonte STEAM SCHOOL | SEE PAGE 13
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