By Elizabeth Barhydt
The first week of school in New Canaan was marked by sunlit mornings, fresh paint on walls, and children’s voices filling hallways that had stood silent through summer. The Board of Education meeting on September 2 brought the principals from every school to Town Hall, each one offering their report — not just numbers, but the sense of how the year has begun.
Superintendent Dr. Bryan Luizzi opened the session by acknowledging what many families had felt in the past ten days: bus routes had been late, confusing, or misaligned. The district has been shifting to a new transportation software, Traversa, intended to integrate with school dismissal systems and PowerSchool. “We are working around the clock to resolve those issues,” Luizzi told the board, adding that safety was the first priority. “I hope and think we’re going to hear some reports that we’ve had quite some marked improvement even today from last week.”
He noted that a full review of the rollout would come once operations had stabilized. “We will look back a bit and find out what happened with the implementation, why the data didn’t transfer the way we anticipated. For now, we are marshalling all resources to resolve the issues,” Luizzi said.
Then came the principals’ reports — a ritual that is part celebration, part inventory.
East School: “Joyful and Successful”
Dr. Zoe Robinson, who last week successfully defended her dissertation and earned her doctorate, described an opening that was carefully prepared and warmly executed.
“East started off with a very successful opening of the year,” Robinson said. “The year begins before the students arrive.” On August 19, a group of student leaders hosted new families, leading scavenger hunts and tours to ease the transition. The traditional meet-and-greet on August 25 brought students together with their teachers before the first bell rang.
Robinson reported that East welcomed 565 students in grades K–4 this year, with six sections at each grade level. “The first few days of school were filled with enthusiastic smiles,” she said. “Teachers worked diligently to establish classroom expectations, build connections with their students, and create welcoming spaces for students to thrive and learn.”
A resurfaced playground and new recess materials funded by the PTC added to the excitement. “Lots of requests for soccer balls — not the inflatable ones,” Robinson said, smiling.
South School: A Milestone Year
At South School, Principal Matt Kascak spoke of tradition and growth. “Overall, our first week of school was very smooth and successful and we want to thank Mother Nature for providing perfect weather all week,” he said.
This fall marks South’s 75th year serving New Canaan students. “We plan to have a variety of anniversary activities throughout the year to celebrate this milestone,” Kascak said. Enrollment stands at 489 students across 26 sections.
Transportation, he said, improved quickly. “Our last bus didn’t leave until 3:35 on Tuesday, but by Friday our last bus left at 3:20,” he reported. “We really had no missing children or people on the wrong buses. So, knock on wood, we had a really good week with transportation.”
Kascak described the delight of greeting 99 kindergarten students — 14 more than last year — and personally welcoming all 21 new students in grades 1–4. He praised the PTC for organizing playdates and continuing a composting program funded by Planet New Canaan. “Our school garden continues to be a gem,” he said, producing more than 60 pounds of food this summer for local residents.
West School: A Theme of Kindness
Principal Jan Murphy spoke warmly about her staff’s readiness and her school’s theme. “It does sometimes feel that we never left over the summer,” she said. “Good to be back and great to start a new fresh year.”
West School has 423 students in grades K–4 and 56 in pre-K. Murphy said the school’s climate focus this year builds on its “KIND” framework — Kind, Independent, Neighborly, Determined. “We chose a book called A Thousand Nos,” Murphy explained. “It’s about a little girl who has a great idea, keeps hearing no after no, but with perseverance and innovation, she gets the biggest yes ever. It ties to the D in KIND — Determined.”
Infrastructure upgrades greeted students as well: nine classrooms received new SMART Boards, the front stone wall was refurbished, and a sensory pathway was installed between buildings for students needing movement breaks.
Murphy also announced a pilot program, Let Grow, aimed at building independence in second graders. “The I in KIND is going to stand for independent,” she said. “We envision taking pictures of students being that I in KIND and celebrating the ways they’ve been independent.”
Saxe Intermediate: “Shine Bright”
Principal Sarah Granite began her report by welcoming 633 students, including 26 new to the district. The summer brought fresh paint to fifth-grade classrooms and new flooring in the cafeteria and stairwells.
Granite described a new “Rise and Shine” block — ten minutes at the start of the day to build relationships and ease students into learning. “We’ve gotten wonderful feedback from teachers,” she said. “They love the idea of starting with a welcome at the door and building in time for conversation.”
Saxe Middle: Inspiration as Theme
Principal Dave Gusitsch told the board that nearly 600 students in grades 7 and 8 had begun the year “with a genuine sense of excitement.” Seven new certified staff and ten support staff joined the team.
“This may be one of the best launches in recent memory,” Gusitsch said. The school’s theme this year is “Inspire,” a word posted in hallways and classrooms. “We want our students to appreciate the process of learning, be resilient in the face of challenges, be innovative, and take pride in their school,” he said.
New Canaan High School: Tradition and Pride
High School Principal Bill Egan said the opening week was “filled with energy.” Freshman orientation was held in the morning for the first time, followed by a senior breakfast. “It was the first of many lasts they’ll experience this year,” Egan said. “It was a wonderful way to set the tone for both ends of our student community.”
Facilities upgrades include a refreshed Wagon Room and a new PA system coming online within weeks. “We should all be proud to represent such an amazing school community,” Egan told the board.
The reports painted a picture of a district that is bustling, near full capacity, and eager for the year ahead. There were challenges — buses arriving late, schedules shifting — but the mood in the boardroom was determined and optimistic. “It hasn’t defined us,” Luizzi said of the transportation troubles. “It hasn’t had a negative impact on what’s happening within the four walls of our buildings — the energy, the joy, and what’s happening with our kids.”
