By Crystal Wang ’17, Staff Writer

The beginning of a new academic school year at Newark Academy means a variety of things – from seeing plenty of familiar faces to remembering what it’s like to actually take a test. Many students have already been on campus for weeks, thanks to summer preseason sports practices and orientation programs. As with every academic school year at Newark Academy, there is a great influx of new students at the school. This year especially, there are plenty of new faces not only in the student body, but in the faculty as well. Ranging in departments from mathematics to humanities to health, all of the new teachers are excited to be making their mark at Newark Academy.

One of the new teachers in the math department is Ms. Ayers. A graduate from the University of Virginia, Ms. Ayers teaches Geometry, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, and BC Calculus. When asked about how her time at Newark Academy has been, she answered, “So far, my time at NA has been wonderful. My students are kind, hardworking, and understanding. My colleagues have also been so helpful, friendly, and welcoming.” Like most teachers, Ms. Ayers has been really enjoying her time at NA. When asked about the most difficult part of transitioning to a new school, her answer was, “The most difficult part is getting to know everyone’s names, especially the teachers’ first AND last names!” Additionally, Ms. Ayers is very much looking forward to experiencing the NA community through all the events that the school has to offer. She added, “I’m so excited to start attending NA sporting events, concerts, and productions. It’s always fun getting to know your students outside of the academic world.”

Another “new” teacher, Ms. Del Russo, is a great addition to the health education department in both the middle and upper school. She is very happy to be back at NA. Ms. Del Russo had previously worked at Newark Academy as a health teacher, but decided to take off five years to focus on spending quality time with her family at home. Nevertheless, Ms. Del Russo is back and very ready to be a teacher again. When asked about how her time has been at NA, she immediately responded, “I LOVE NA! The students are top notch and so are all of my colleagues!” Furthermore, she is extremely impressed with the new improvements NA has made since her time here.  When asked about how Newark Academy has changed, she responded, “It is very exciting to come back to a new academic wing and all of the improvements to the outdoor athletic facilities. I am looking forward to the new Middle School. Newark Academy has grown a lot and looks like it will continue to grow.” She cheerfully added, “The transition back into NA from being away for five years has not been too difficult. The more things that change, the more things stay the same.”

Along with new teachers, there are also lots of new students. Freshman Alli Bader described her first two weeks at NA: “My time at NA has been an adjustment but overall really great. I’ve been able to go to a bunch of different places in school to study and it really helps get a lot of homework done, especially since I play on the varsity tennis team.” Like most students, Alli’s time management skills greatly benefit from the block scheduling system that Newark Academy offers. She even says that her favorite thing about the school is its scheduling system. She adds, “I really like the longer lunches.”

Clearly, there is a lot of excitement that comes with the addition of new students and teachers. Although they have only been in classes for a few days, they are sure to make their mark at Newark Academy with their positive attitudes.