The New Beginning of the Lower School Builds a Solid Bridge to a Bright Future!

Bright and early on September 4, as cars turned off Hope Road onto campus and students were bustled into Ranney for the first day of the 2008/2009 school year, it looked like almost any other opening day. But it was far from business as usual. Not only was it the beginning of the school year for Upper and Middle school students, but it was, in fact, opening day for the new Lower School Academic Complex and Panther Hall.

While Upper and Middle School students started the day with special welcome assemblies, and Beginners through kindergarten students explored their new home in the Early Childhood Education Center, first through fifth graders stepped through the welcoming doors of the new Lower School Academic Complex for the very first time.

“When our students entered our new facilities on opening day, they crossed the threshold into the future,” explained Dr. Lawrence Sykoff, Head of School. “The new facilities represent an adventure into contemporary learning, inspired by devoted teachers who also see these new facilities as a vibrant environment in which teaching is enhanced and energized by modern technologies. The opening day of school was a special moment in the lives of our students and teachers, and we sincerely thank our parents for making this all possible.”

Setting the tone for what proved to be a very exciting first day in the new Lower School, parents and students were welcomed at the school’s doors at 8:40 a.m. Sometimes holding a teacher’s hand, students were shown their lockers and classrooms – all the while looking upon their new school with amazement and awe. Once the important duties were taken care of, like introducing students to their own teachers, the students were given tours of the new facility.

“The first day of school this year was a grand moment for Ranney School,” exclaims Patricia Marshall, Head of Lower School. “It was marked with celebration and excitement, but it was still the first day of school, so we were careful to offer a warm Ranney embrace on Thursday, gently welcoming our students back to school after a long summer break. Though returning to new, much bigger and brighter spaces, we wanted to make sure they felt like they were returning to their familiar school.”

On Friday Lower School students celebrated in the new Panther Hall with the division’s first Honor Code Assembly, where they bellowed a loud cheer that resounded with joy, pride and celebration for the school they love!

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.