Playground party coincides with new principal at Ridpath Primary

Children play on the playground together at Ridpath Primary School on Friday morning. The annual meet and greet that offers new students and their parents to meet one another also served as a chance to meet the school's newly appointed principal, Emily Johnson.

Children with mohawks, skirts and polo shirts played together at Ridpath Primary School Friday morning at the third annual "Welcome to School Playground Party."

The event provides a chance for students and parents to meet one another as they enter public education.

"This is a great way for parents to get to know each other," said PTO officer and organizer Cathy Tesmer. "These kids will be growing up together, the parents and the kids will be seeing each other for another 18 years."

The meeting remains scheduled on the first Friday before the start of each school year.

The event allows students to directly seek assistance with class scheduling, online registration and any questions regarding school registration, but this year provided the added bonus of also getting to meet Emily Johnson, who was appointed Ridpath primary Principal during a special meeting of the GCSC school board Thursday afternoon.

At that meeting, the school board approved the resignation of Shawn Gobert and the hiring of Johnson to take his place.

Johnson and Gobert weren't the only changes at GCSC, the board also approved the hiring of multiple other staff members including Katelunn Duby as fourth-grade teacher at Tzouanakis; John Nees as biology teacher at GHS; Kim Brattain as eighth-grade language arts teacher at GMS and Jessica Faust as temporary teacher at Tzouanakis, replacing Jessica Stockton while on maternity leave.

In addition, the board also approved hiring Garry Anderson as head boys' and girls' cross country coach at GHS; Laura McMasters as assistant cross country coach at GHS; Michael Meyer as assistant football coach at GHS; Diana Divine as autumn athletic events manager at GHS; Michael Scott as volunteer assistant cross country coach at GMS; both Lucas Morgan and Thomas Hamilton as volunteer assistant football coaches at GMS, Teresa Baker transferred from cafeteria assistant at Tzouanakis to cafeteria manager at Ridpath Primary and Heather Huber was approved a transfer from SLP instructional assistant to instructional assistant for the pre-kindergarten program at Deer Meadow Primary.