Take Five With Borough School Principal Dolan

Excited to get back to school on Monday? Well so are the faculty and staff in the Morris Plains School District. We here at Patch were lucky enough to catch up to Borough School Principal Sean Dolan, who answered five questions about the start of the new school year.

1. What new things will students be returning to this year?    

We have a lot of new things here. New Digital Message Board Screen supported by our wonderful Home and School Association. Also, a new Borough School sign in the back drop off area of the school, also supported by our HSA!

Inside the school there are new Smart Boards in several classroom, and a new Chrome Book Cart for the 8th grade science classes, supported by our Morris Plains Education Foundation!

New murals painted on the walls of our Health Classroom, created and completed by our very own Art Teacher, Mrs. Kirstin Howie and several students from the “Paint the Town” group.

2. What returning favorites can students look forward to?

Every year, students always enjoy the long-standing traditions at Borough. Student Government Officer Elections are a great way to start off the year and gets the school into a great spirit of community. Our school sport teams also bring us all together as we cheer for our classmates in fall, winter and spring sports. Our student of the Marking Period nominations and assemblies are also a favorite for grades 3, 4 and 5. 6th through 8th graders enjoy our Student Council Dances, held quarterly in our school gym. These are just a few of the long-standing activities and programs at Borough.

3. What excites Principal Dolan about coming back to school?

I am always excited to see students return, share their summer experiences and bring new knowledge from those experiences to school. I also really enjoy seeing the new faces light up when their new classmates and friends welcome them to the great community we have at Borough.

4. What are your big picture goals for this school year?

As an educational leader, I would like to see our teaching staff become most familiar with the new goals and learning objectives connected with the Common Core. The outstanding staff at Borough always does a fine job preparing students throughout the year to meet the exceed the challenges set by our state assessment requirements. I am excited to support them in their efforts with infusing the new goals and objectives of the common core and student growth.

As a school leader, I want to celebrate the achievements of our student sand staff in recognizing “great moments" as they occur throughout the year. With the fast paced nature of our society, days and months pass like seconds and minutes, often times avoiding recognition and remembrance. This year, I plan on celebrating the moments that happen, because if we don't stop and savor them, they disappear and never get the attention they deserve. Big or small, Borough will be a school celebrating its moments this year.

5. What is your favorite part about the first day of school?

The ENTIRE DAY is a great day for me. I enjoy every second of it, from the minute I wake up, until the last student I wave goodbye to leaves at days end. I see the first day of school as the "Opening Ceremony" to the year-long journey of learning, growth and life in our school community.

Looks like there is a lot to look forward to this school year. Tell us: what excites you the most for back to school?