Pictured is the Pollard Elementary School in Plaistow, N.H., one of eight schools where Haverhill’s former facilities supervisor, Thomas F. Geary, will be in charge of coordinating operations for the Timberlane and Hampstead school districts.
Throughout the month of August, WHAV provides a daily report counting down to the first day of school in Greater Haverhill.
Two familiar faces with ties to Haverhill and its schools are beginning new jobs across the state line this fall.
Thomas F. Geary, who spent the last six years as facilities supervisor in the Haverhill schools, was hired as business operations coordinator for the Timberlane and Hampstead, N.H., school districts.
Superintendent Earl Metzler said Geary will directly oversee and manage the food service and transportation programs and all aspects of facilities.
Geary spent 16 years with the Haverhill Public Schools.
Timberlane serves Plaistow, Atkinson, Danville and Sandown, with elementary schools in each community and a high school and middle school in Plaistow. Hampstead is home to an elementary and middle school. Its high school-aged population attends Pinkerton Academy in Derry.
Haverhill native Stephen Sierpina takes over as principal at Windham, N.H., High School after four years leading the Marsh Grammar School in Methuen.
Sierpina’s history in Haverhill began when he accepted a job teaching history at Haverhill High. He also served as principal of Hunking and Consentino middle schools before taking the job in Methuen.
Education is a Sierpina family tradition. Both his mom and dad spent their careers as educators in the Haverhil Public Schools. His father, Raymond, also served as principal of Tilton Elementary School and, after his retirement, as a member of the Haverhill School Committee.
Sierpina will be the sixth principal since the school was built eight years ago. Until then, Windham’s high-schoolers attended Salem (N.H.) High.
Paul C. Nettle Middle School plans an open house on Monday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Homeroom assignments will be posted on the school’s front door on Aug. 22.
Supply lists for Hunking and Bradford Elementary schools are posted on their websites.
Methuen High athletics fans and students can buy season or yearlong passes for gated events at discounted rates.
Passes for fall sports are $25; winter sports for $50; and spring sports for $25. A year pass is $75, admitting one adult to any gated athletic event hosted by Methuen High during all three seasons.
Student passes are available at $20 for anyone in kindergarten through 12th grade. They are good all year for admission to any gated athletic event hosted by Methuen High.
Regular ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. There will be a ticket charge for the following Ranger sports: Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Hockey, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, Lacrosse and Outdoor Track.
An open house, Merrimac Goes Back to School, takes place at the Sweetsir and Donaghue schools from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31. Parents and students are invited to visit their classrooms and walk around the building during this time.
At 3 p.m., the community portion of the event begins at Sweetsir. From 2 to 4 p.m., community organizations and school programs will have information tables set up at Sweetsir for parents to learn about extra-curricular opportunities. Merrimac is part of the Pentucket Regional School District.
Haverhill Public Schools open their doors to students in grades 1 through 12 on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Kindergarten begins Sept. 5. All Haverhill students will attend for a half-day on Friday, Sept. 1, and enjoy a day off for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4.
Regional first days are:
Pentucket: Aug. 31
Timberlane: Aug. 31
Methuen: Aug. 29
Do you have a submission for the Back-to-School Countdown? Email information to [email protected]. Tune in tomorrow for more back-to-school information.