Good first week for APS

It's Sanborn Elementary School Principal Eric Cardwell's first week of school and he's all smiles. In his first week at Sanborn, Cardwell has been building rapport with the staff and students, while fulfilling the duties of an elementary school principal.

Cardwell, along with school success worker Lisa Siegert, has read the Cat in the Hat to each class at the elementary school and he has utilized the time after the reading to introduce himself to the students.

"They had an opportunity to get to know me a little bit better and know my expectations for them," he said.

Cardwell is originally from the Alpena area and couldn't help but apply when he saw there was a position open in Alpena. He said he has been impressed with the outpouring of the community and staff support at Sanborn.

"This is truly a community school and it's impressive to see that," he said. "The entire staff is just so child centered and it's just a great thing to be a part of."

Cardwell said right from the start he knew Alpena Public Schools was where he wanted to be.

"This has just been a wonderful fit, Sanborn and me. This is just a great little school," Cardwell said.

Principals at Thunder Bay Junior High School and Alpena High School also had a great first week back in school.

TBJH Co-Principal Steve Genschaw said students had a really great week and the students are already adjusted.

He said schedules were taken care of and adjusted fairly quickly. He also said there have been minimal locker problems and transportation from the junior high to the high school has been fairly smooth.

"It's probably been one of the smoothest starts in a while," he said adding there haven't been any behavioral problems yet and that the kids are generally excited to be back.

AHS Principal Matt Poli said there were a lot of tired students at AHS on Friday as they got back into their school routine but that the week went well.

"It was a good start, hot in the beginning, but the kids came back and got settled in. Routines are always good," he said.

He said the incoming freshmen seemed to be having a positive transition

Poli said there was a glitch in the bell system and the students weren't phased throughout the first week despite having no bells indicating their class changes.

Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.