Amy Tabone, a new teacher at Holmes Elementary School, recently participated in a retreat for staff members. Amy Tabone, a teacher in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District, has taught for the past four years at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, but this year she’s switching buildings, becoming one of the new educators at Holmes Elementary School.

The fifth-grade teacher is no different than the student who is the “new kid” in the building and is meeting and will soon work with an entirely new team of teachers and administrators.

To ease the transition to a new school, to reacquaint staff and to ensure teachers are prepared for instruction the first day of school, Holmes Elementary School Principal Lisa Cross held the “Holmes Retreat” for teachers. The theme of the retreat was “Building a Reading Life.”

“It is very important, especially if you are a new teacher, to feel that you are part of a community. I feel that sense of community at Holmes Elementary School. Lisa Cross did a great job of setting goals and establishing expectations. That is what teaching is all about: leading by example and setting high expectations,” said Tabone.

The Holmes Retreat focused on the goal of allowing teachers to dive right into the school’s curriculum on day one of the school year. Classes begin on Tuesday Sept. 7.

“I’m excited to start the new year. We need to set the bar high in order for students to succeed academically. I want my students to establish a love of learning. You can only do that by setting high expectations,” said Tabone.

In addition to a meet-and-greet for returning and new teachers, there were numerous workshops on the following topics: review curriculum expectations, state assessment results, changes in state assessments and team planning.

“The goal is to collaborate and plan together. Because of our retreat now, teachers won’t feel pressure on that first day. They can focus on planning and curriculum and can feel supported by fellow teachers and administrators,” said Cross.