Hurley K-12 helps students, parents prepare for first day

By TOM LAVENTURE

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HURLEY, Wis. - Parents and students of the Hurley K-12 School had an open house Thursday to help take the anxiety out of the first day of fall semester classes on Tuesday.

Amanda Jewell, Montreal, said she and her daughters going into kindergarten, third and sixth grade, were able to see their class schedules, meet their teachers and find their lockers.

"I think it's a great idea," Jewell said. "This is the first time I came and I think it's been very helpful for the kids and for the parents."

Kathy Czarnecki, Hurley first grade teacher, said the open house helps everyone be better organized. Her students were able to find their desks and get their school supplies together. The parents and students could ask question but it's really about easing any potential jitters on Tuesday, she said.

"It helps to kind of get rid of that nervous feeling that the kids can get before walking in on that first day," Czarnecki said.

Laura Waterhouse, Hurley, has one daughter who already graduated but also has a son, Che Canalia, 7, who will be starting second grade. She said it was good to get familiar with the classes, teachers and administrators.

"It's also nice that they have all these resources here as well," Waterhouse said.

Kevin Genisot, district administrator, said there was a lot of activity with more than a dozen booths in the commons. The school was buzzing with energy and people were excited to see the completed expansion of the North Woods Manufacturing program.

"Parents are coming down the hall and the kids are excited and I think they are ready to get back into the routine," Genisot said. "The students are happy to see their class list on the elementary side and on the middle-high school side they're happy to get their computers."

Genisot said one unexpected guest was Wisconsin State Sen. Janet Bewley, D-25, who chatted with faculty, parents and staff of the several agencies and nonprofits present. She said families could see what support can happen inside and outside of school.

"The fact that families can come here and not just meet their teachers but see all of the services that the school is bringing to wrap about that family is just incredible," Bewley said. "We're all in this together and I just celebrate the fact that kids can start off the school year seeing just how much the community cares about them."

Teresa Way, children's unit manager with Iron County Human Services, brought her social worker and youth mentors to provide information about services and programs families and children.

"The open house is a good way to get the information out there," said Lauren Vinopal, a youth mentor. "Some people don't know that we have the program and it's nice to have people look at it and see what we actually do to help any child who can use an extra support system."

Shannon Lutz, the alcohol and other drug abuse therapist at Human Services, created a mock-bedroom for parents to see how kids who use drugs hide them in plain sight. Local law enforcement was also present.

"I was amazed that there are a lot of things I haven't seen and so we just want parents to be aware that kids get creative with hiding these things and to just be involved and pay attention," said Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich. "The biggest thing is just bringing the awareness to the parents that this stuff is out there and can be hidden."

While Lutz helped parents learn how to spot drug paraphernalia their kids were in the hall with Officer Josiah Hewitt, of the Hurley Police Department. His role was to get the children comfortable with law enforcement so that they feel comfortable reporting illegal activity, he said.