Students return for brand new day at Bridgeport Schools

BRIDGEPORT - The past few years at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District have been marked by intense planning, ambitious projects and new partnerships designed to expand options in education. On the first day of school Aug. 20 the students took their first steps into the future of Bulldog Country and beyond.

Rain did not keep people from turning out in the early hours of the day with umbrellas and signs as they stood on National Road wishing the students well. The elementary school teachers and staff applauded the new arrivals and even some high schoolers joined in and got a hug from staffers.

"I can't believe how tall you are!" one staff member said to a returning student.

Kindergarten teacher Morgan Castilow was among those greeting the youngest Bulldogs.

"We see some familiar faces from preschool, but a lot of these kids are new to the district," she said. "We get them ready and set the foundation for years to come."

Principal Kamaron Sabinski was spreading cheer.

"I'm super excited for this school year. First day drop-off could not have gone smoother. The students were excited, parents were taking first-day pictures."

The new school year is featuring new faces among the staff, including Bridgeport Middle School Principal Aaron Marovich who is starting his first year. He is looking forward to working with students during that important stage between elementary and high school, when they begin to explore their strengths.

"The new school year is looking great. I really want to hone in on what I value for my first year, and I value relationships, I value respect and I value responsibility, I value effort and I value belief."

He added as preparation for high school, the eighth graders will begin taking some courses in the newly-constructed education and training, health and community center called "the Bridge."

"I'm excited to get over there and explore with those students and really push them to find their best approach."

Marovich added he has met with the middle school staff to plan the start of the year.

"I couldn't ask for a better staff," he said. "Go Dogs!"

Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher welcomed the high school grades in the gymnasium and introduced their teachers for the school year. Students greeted their incoming peers with applause.

The first day of school was also a time to showcase the Bridge for all the students. Bridge Director Trina Kropka began leading tours of students through the facility and they got their first look at the expanded classes, labs and College Credit Plus offerings.

"Everyone's rolling in this morning. We're excited to get the kids down into their new classrooms."

Veterinary Technician Taylor Watson, an experienced lecturer who has spoken at Kent State University, greeted her first class with contagious enthusiasm and began by showing her students Violet, a friendly ball python who will feature in the zoology and aquarium studies class.

"My students are going to direct and put up their own enclosures," she said. The courses will touch on veterinary medicine and conservation studies. She said the hands-on approach will serve them well. "That exotic experience will put them above others in applications when they get out of this field."

Watson is letting the students work with her own animals which are docile and safe. She has owned reptiles for 10 years and students will have multiple species to pick from.

"Their whole job is going to be to research proper lighting, substrate, all of that stuff, then we'll have aquariums in my classroom designed for each animal that they choose," she said. "It will be their job throughout the year to set all of that up and display it correctly. So if someone wants to be a zookeeper, someone wants to be a zoological coordinator, somebody wants to go in environmental studies and come out on top, because they've already got all of those designs and all of that knowledge."

Freshman Gracelynn Overly was among the students getting acquainted with Violet.

"I love animals so much."

They also met Engineering and Science and Technology instructor John Martin. He said they can also look forward to practical applications in his lab.

The tour continued through the health lab, the in-building clinics and the Dog Pound health and fitness center run by Cole Smelley.

Evan Clark, a senior, was impressed.

"This building's amazing with all the opportunities it's going to bring to our community and our students. I'm really excited for all our new classes," he said. "I'm definitely interested in the robotics class. I'm very excited for that."

Caleb Lyons, another senior, agreed.

"I think it's awesome. Personally, I think the robotics class we already looked at was really cool. It's got a 3-D printer I thought was really interesting. I'm not going to be taking those classes, my schedule doesn't have it, but I wish I could," he said. He is also eager to try the Dog Pound. "It's a really nice gym. What Coach Cole is doing is really interesting and I think it's a really cool thing we're doing."

Senior Amber Polomik said the Bridge was a lot to take in.

"I definitely love the idea of having different things and hands-on experiences for students to get into, and I'm grateful for the new Bridge we've added onto our area," she said. "It definitely interests a lot of my peers."