Summer vacation over for Princeton, Williams kids

Chad Zoller was not done with Princeton High School after all.

The 2012 graduate, and salutatorian of his class, left a message on the school's marquee, adding a little humor to the start of what many expect to be a very good academic year.

The sign reads, "School starts Aug. 9. Resistance is Futile."

Macy Reamer, Princeton High's student body president, was not surprised by Zoller's prank, but said she comes into her senior year with high expectations.

"I am excited about my senior year," she said. "I hope we can have a lot of fun this year."

The district administration is particularly excited about the new year.

The senior and junior high school has received an important six-year accreditation, and the elementary school was recognized last year for its testing improvements.

"We have reasons to believe it is gong to be a really good year," Superintendent John Green said this week.

The district is down on its numbers this year.

The senior and junior high campus has 112 students, and the elementary school has 78, the district reported. That means less money.

And while Green is comfortable with the district's finances for the current term, he is worried about next year.

But as far as Reamer is concerned, that is next year.

She said the Associated Student Body leaders have already met, and work is already under way for Homecoming activities.

Williams Unified started its school year on Wednesday, and it was not just the new students who were looking a bit lost.

Nicholas Richter, the new principal at the junior and senior high campus, admitted that things did not go as smoothly as they could have, but was pleased with the first day.

The campus saw an increase of students — 191 at the junior high and 387 at the senior high — and that created a few stumbles.

A record 480 students are enrolled at the elementary school, their "freshly scrubbed" faces greeting first-time administrator Denise Conrado.

She is the assistant principal for the elementary and upper elementary campuses, but her office is at the K-3 campus.

The upper elementary school, where principal Jennifer Foglesong is housed, had 273 students on the opening day.

Conrado has been a teacher and reading specialist with the district for eight years, so she is not as new to Williams as Richter.

Still, there is a big change from being a teacher to being an administrator.

"It is more intense on the job, but it seems there is less stress after hours," she said. "Teachers are always worried about the next day."

Conrado counts herself lucky to have a teaching staff that is so experienced, but admits she worried about being accepted after the very popular Cyndee Engrahm left.

"But everyone has been so welcoming," she said.