ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Kindergartner Alexander Rosales gets his first look at Harrington Elementary School Wednesday with his mother, Leticia Escalona, and teachers, from left, Joan Rizzo and Alana Sullivan, and paraprofessional Sherrell Bergeron.
BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Just hired by the School Department and inspired to teach by her aunt, Alana Sullivan stood in front of a classroom packed with students for the first time on Wednesday.
Like the kindergartners, Sullivan is new to the Harrington Elementary School.
The 22-year-old first year teacher met her students and their parents outside the school for orientation Wednesday. Inside her classroom, Sullivan talked about Harrington’s 7:45 a.m. start time and snack time — there isn’t one — the school calls its “healthy brain break” and going to the bathroom. Parents are advised to pack an extra set of clothes.
Each student received a black backpack and this offer from Sullivan: “If you don’t have supplies at home, come to me and I’ll help.”
Sullivan is taking over room 115 from Joan Rizzo, an experienced teacher going on maternity leave. Rizzo plans to return to the school as a reading teacher and she told Sullivan to “make your classroom your own.”
Teaching kindergarten is Sullivan’s first full-time job. But it is one she expected to do. She volunteered at her aunt’s Quincy preschool class and having relatives in nearby Revere made her familiar with Lynn.
While Lynn’s school year gets into full swing today and tomorrow, Wednesday was a chance for kindergartners and mothers and fathers to get introduced to school.
“This gives parents an opportunity to meet teachers, learn expectations and routines,” said Debra Ruggiero, Harrington’s principal.
Johannes Martinez and Julie Quinones walked into Sullivan’s classroom with their son, Kenneth. Martinez’ father knows attending school means his son will learn more technology and ways it can enhance his education.
“I don’t even remember it when I went to school,” Martinez said.
Jake Mercado Jr. spent the summer playing basketball and fishing. But he is ready to squirm his arms through the shoulder straps of his new Super Mario backpack and head off to Harrington on Monday. When he walks into Sullivan’s room, he will have a message spelled out in blue construction paper letters, waiting for him: “Let the adventure begin …”
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com.