By Avice Meehan

Principal Lauren Valentino (in red) and Superintendent Kevin Case welcome students to the first day of school at Botelle Elementary School. After two days of professional training for staff, Botelle opened its doors on Aug. 27 to welcome 55 students for the new school year. The building gleamed and the crisp, sunny morning felt like fall. Botelle enrolled seven new students this year and one returning student across all age groups. Principal Valentino said she looked forward to seeing how students had grown over the summer and to diving into the work. “All children want to achieve, and when you involve them in that process, they are motivated,” she said in an interview. “It’s all about how you are growing and how you can intentionally get there.” Botelle uses a multi-age classroom model for teaching and is now in the third year of a new reading curriculum. Writing will be a major focus this year, along with a renewed emphasis on individualized instruction keyed to the needs of each child.