COUNTDOWN IS ‘ON’! Malden Public Schools’ doors swing open on August 28

New Superintendent says Malden district’s staff is ‘ready to go’ to kick off the new school year

By Steve Freker

MALDEN – The “vibe” for the new school year is enthusiasm and positivity in Malden as “Back to School” approaches for the Malden Public Schools. The countdown is on for the start of the new school year and new Malden Public Schools Superintendent Timothy Sippel, Ed.L.D. says he and his staff are looking forward to welcoming the city’s 6,500-plus students back to the classrooms as summer break comes to a close.

The first day of school for students in Grades 1 to 12 is on Wednesday, August 28, while Malden Public Schools kindergarten and Pre-K students will report for the first official day of classes on Friday, September 6. See separate story on this page for school hours at each of Malden’s seven public schools, from Pre-K to Grade 12.

“There has been a lot of enthusiasm evident this summer, shown by our administration in our back-to-school planning and that has been great to see,” Superintendent Sippel said Wednesday, shortly after greeting 33 newly hired educators at an event held at Malden High School. “We are planning to carry it into the start of our school year.”

Sippel, who began his tenure as the head of the Malden Public Schools July 1, has “hit the ground running” since Day One, he said, with his first steps centered around “getting to know as much about the Malden community, as quickly as possible.”

The new superintendent told The Advocate he has “been impressed with the welcoming atmosphere” he has experienced in Malden so far. Superintendent Sippel said he has attended a slew of Malden celebrations and events this summer, including Malden National Night Out at Macdonald Stadium earlier this month and the iconic St. Rocco’s Feast in the city’s Edgeworth neighborhood just a week ago.

The former Worcester Public Schools administrator – who also spent two decades-plus in California Public Schools – said he has already greeted or met hundreds of Malden residents, including students, families and other community members, in the nearly two months he has been on the job. “It has been a pleasure to interact with so many people from Malden and I intend on getting to know many more,” he said.

Superintendent Sippel recently released a formal Entry Plan that details just that: meeting with many groups and individuals in and around the city to get an inside look on what stakeholders would like to see from their public school system.

On August 28, though, the day-to-day operation for the #1 most diverse school district in Massachusetts begins.

The Superintendent said that the district website – located at www.maldenps.org – is up to date and contains all of the first day of school information and school opening and closing hours for all of the seven schools: Early Learning Center, Beebe K-8 School, Ferryway K-8 School, Forestdale K-8 School, Linden K-8 School, Salemwood K-8 School and Malden High School.

“I’m ready to go, our staff is ready to go,” Superintendent Sippel said. “We are looking forward to working together and making this a successful, productive school year for our students and their families.”

Information on specific back to school hours and other details for each of the schools in the district is available at www.maldenpublicschools.org.