Please Add Your Photos to Bernards Schools Reopen

Michele Piancazzo and his wife Stefania said it was a bit emotional to drop their older son off for his first day of kindergarten at the starting with the before-care program, and then leave for their day.

Even though the couple has a younger sibling who hasn't yet started school, Stefania Piancazzo observed, "We just can't believe how quickly the time has gone."

Nevertheless, she said of the new kindergarten student: "He was happy."

Whether they were preschoolers or seniors logging their last year at Bernards Township students made their way by foot, bus or private vehicle to the Bernards school district's first day of school on Thursday. Most were more experienced than the kindergartners, but all were heading off to a new year that promises to bring lots of learning.

Christine Pietrantuono dropped off her preschooler at the Mount Prospect Elementary School after her third grader already had embarked on his new year at the

She said that her third-grade son was very excited about returning to school and, by this past week, she also was ready for summer vacation to end.

Lara Bevaqua also had dropped off a new kindergarten student, who would be attending Mount Prospect. She said that she and her daughter already had met her new kindergarten teacher two days earlier and she feels her daughter is ready for the full-day program. Nevertheless, she said she is a little nervous about such things as whether her daughter will feel hungry during the day.

Slight increase in school lunch prices

There was a slight increase in the cost of school lunches this year. The school's food services program is self-supporting and handled by Armamark, an outside vendor, without taxpayer contribution. Lunch at the elementary schools will cost $2.20 this year, up from $2.15 last year; lunch at the William Annin Middle School will cost $2.35, up from $2.30; and the price of milk is up a nickel, too, from 50 to 55 cents. The high school's cafeteria is a la carte, school officials said.

Over the summer, the school district had undertaken and for the most part all but the finishing touches have been completed, Schools Superintendent Nick Markarian said on Thursday morning.

However, he said that a replacement cupola on the which will arrive pre-made, still is being awaited. It should be placed on the school soon, Markarian said.

Something that remains unchanged at the start of the year is the of the building. The buses were rerouted to Cedar Hill last February, drawing protest from surrounding residents, as an effort to relieve traffic at the front entrance to Ridge High School off South Finley Avenue. School officials said they continue to seek a long-term safe alternative.

Some students will begin new math or language arts programs this year, during which a new statewide teachers evaluations system will be phased in.

Other changes involve top staff. is now schools superintendent, following last fall that she would retired at the end of June 2012.

although he will maintain some of his previous administrative curriculum responsibilities.

One new face at the Board of Education office will be Rod McLaughlin, hired last spring as the new board administrator and secretary.

For those who are counting, the last day on the school calendar for students is a shortened schedule on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.