By Mary O’KEEFE

Rosemont Middle School’s new principal can’t wait for the first day of school. He has already met with teachers and staff and is halfway through the two large binders of wisdom left by former principal Cynthia Livingston.

“Cynthia left a binder that [was

titled] ‘Where We’ve Been’ and a second binder [titled], ‘Where We Are Going,’” said Scott Anderle, the new Rosemont principal.

Anderle knows how well-liked and admired Livingston was and does not want to come into the school making sweeping changes. He has read the “Where We’ve Been” binder and is halfway through “Where We Are Going.” The binders have been of great help, he said, in getting to know the school, but nothing replaces the face-to-face meetings, of which he has had many.

He has spent a lot of time getting to know the teachers and staff and said he is very impressed.

“I have met with a number of [staff members] and everyone is very enthusiastic,” he added.

Anderle praised the “talented” teachers and amazing support staff, especially Margie Fester, senior administrative secretary, and Carmen Ledesman, head custodian.

He has met with representatives from PTA and will meet with other parent clubs/organizations as well.

Anderle has been with the district for 20 years and has been an assistant principal at Toll Middle School. For the last several years, he has been the assistant director of Student Services.

“I have always wanted to be a principal,” he said.

So when the opportunity came to apply for the Rosemont position, it was the perfect time for a move.

He will continue many of the programs Livingston began, including the sports programs, and although he has some new ideas of his own there is no urgency to implement them. Taking it slow and learning the pace of the school is his priority.

“What I have learned is the community places high expectations on education,” he said.

And as to continuing present programs and beginning new ones, Anderle said he will reach out to parents for suggestions – and help.

“We will be asking for volunteers,” he said.

Anderle has set three main goals for this year; the first is time management.

“That’s why reminder binders are important,” Anderle said.

Reminder binders are a type of scheduling planner that can be tracked by students, teachers and parents as a way to keep everyone informed regarding homework and other requirements.

The second goal is to encourage parents to have their children “unplug” from the Internet, especially in the hours between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., which is often when students are on social media. The third focus is to encourage kids to “read for pleasure.”

He will not be alone as the “new kid” at Rosemont because, along with all the new seventh graders, there will be five new teachers added to the school roster.

When asked what he is most looking forward to in the upcoming school year, he replied, “The kids.”

“Just watching the kids come to school, especially the seventh graders, with all the excitement of the unknown,” he said.

  Mary Okeefe