BACK TO SCHOOL 2011: Winthrop School

Like Melrose High School, the has a , who replaces the .

Since arriving in Melrose, Herrera said she's been busy figuring out what programs are in place at the Winthrop and how the school will move forward this coming year.

"It’s been completely a learning process this summer and I’m certainly not done learning," she said. "It’s difficult to be the only one in the building and trying to get information, because no one’s really here to give it to you."

Herrera said she has met with Melrose central administrators, the other principal, teachers, parents, the PTO and community members with one central question in mind: What is it that makes the Winthrop the Winthrop?

"What’s good about the Winthrop—what do we need to continue to build on and foster—and what are some of the things that can maybe go away, or we look at and consider whether they're worthy or not," she said. "One of the nice things has been the involvement of the community. I mean, everybody has emailed and called or come by and kind of offered up their opinion on what makes this a good school. So that’s made it a pretty good summer."

SMART Boards and science kits on tap

The Winthrop, as with the rest of the elementary schools, enters the school year with SMART Board interactive whiteboards installed in every classroom.

Herrera said that the Winthrop already had two rolling SMART Boards "that seemed to be predominately used by certain teachers in our building," but now each classroom will have a board. Teachers have been attending trainings and integration lessons this month on the boards.

"That will be a huge push for us," she said.

Also new to all the elementary schools is a complete roll out of the FOSS (Full Option Science System) science kits. Last year, , and kits for each classroom have been purchased this year.

"It’s more investigatory, hands-on, really more science lab-type lessons," Herrera said. "That’s the science world I come from, teaching fifth grade science—that’s what I love, to really let kids explore."

Health and wellness program pilot

Also, this year the Winthrop School is piloting a comprehensive health and wellness program, chosen by a community group formed to examine health programming within Melrose Public Schools, Herrera said. That program will also be piloted at the secondary levels as well.

"I’m excited about that," Herrera said. "It includes an anti-bullying component, it includes all those things for social and emotional health that we’re really looking for in a health and wellness curriculum."