Mill Pond School Opens With Changes at Principal, Gym

The biggest changes awaiting Mill Pond School students this week are in the principal's office and the gymnasium.

Principal Suzanne Kenny takes over for Reene Hatherley, who retired this summer, ending just over 33 years in education, all but four in the Westborough schools, the last 13 as Mill Pond principal.

And the Mill Pond gym floor was replaced this summer.

Westborough students start school Wednesday.

"I'm sure kids are curious about who the new principal will be. I'm hoping what they'll see is that it's still a really positive exciting place to be," Kenny said.

"The teachers here are highly qualified, highly energetic and dedicated. And I think when the kids come back, they'll see that we're continuing to do good things here."

Kenny said she sent families a letter in early August, identifying the student's homeroom teacher, along with "a letter from that team of teachers, and a supply list."

She also included a letter introducing herself.

"With me being a new principal, I'm going to take some time to get  to know the staff and the students and the families, to see what's important to them," Kenny told Westborough Patch.

"Mill Pond is a very strong school. It has a very strong, positive culture. It has strong achievement. So, it's not a school where you have to jump in and fix things right off the bat. So, that gives me an opportunity to really spend a little bit of time getting to know the community. And then based on feedback, then make some decisions."

The previous 10-year-old floor had “reached its useful life expectancy” and constantly bubbles and tears, district Director of Finance and Administration Irene Oliver told the school committee last November.

"It's been a huge project. And our custodial staff has been great in terms of helping with that," Kenny said.