PARIS — New principals and teachers will greet the thousands of students headed to classes in the Oxford Hills School District this week.

The new school year begins Wednesday, Aug. 27, when seventh- and ninth-grade students return to classes. All others will begin Thursday, Aug. 28.

Teachers and staff were busy Monday in all-day workshops, while some students took advantage of the last few days of summer recess and hot weather to go bicycling, skateboarding and swimming.

Isabella Farrar, 6, of Paris, is entering first grade at the Paris Elementary School but is nonplussed by the thought of her first day back to school. She attended kindergarten at the same school and seemed only concerned with lulling in the water of Pennesseewassee Lake on Monday afternoon.

Her favorite summer activity? Swimming. Her favorite class at school? Recess.

Farrar already knows the name of her teacher. But for many others, there will be a lot of new teachers to meet this year.

School officials say 50 people, or 8 percent of the overall 600 staff members, have been hired to fill vacancies.

At Paris Elementary School, Principal Jane Fahey said students will welcome 14 new staff members, including seven classroom teachers.

“Just the addition of all those new people is revitalizing to us,” Fahey said. “They bring a lot of energy to our school.”

Oxford Hills Middle School in Paris has a few new faces and most are transfers from within the district, Principal Troy Eastman said.

“We are looking forward to a good start for the new school year,” he said.

In addition to the new teachers, there are new principals as well.

Daniel Hart, who has served as principal of Telstar Regional High School for the past six years, replaces longtime Guy E. Rowe Elementary School Principal George “Beaux” Sincerbeaux, who retired after 40 years as an educator.

Tiffany Karnes will serve as principal of Oxford Elementary School, replacing Kim Ramharter, who moved to Alaska. Karnes served as principal of the Hebron Station School from 2007 to 2010 before resigning to tackle a new challenge in Aroostook County, closer to her family.

In addition to the new staff, new programs are also in place at some schools.

Paris Elementary School has added a special needs program so Paris children will not have to attend Guy E. Rowe School in Norway, Fahey said.

At the Oxford Hills Middle School on Madison Avenue in Oxford, staffers are continuing to refine the trimester system instituted last year when the second campus was established. There will also be an emphasis on math and literacy intervention, Eastman said.

Other changes this school year include a move for the administration office.

In July, the district central office was moved from the Oxford Shopping Plaza on Route 26 in Oxford to the Western Maine University and Community College Center at 232 Main St. in Paris. The SAD 17 board meetings are held there.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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