Gordon College, Lynn schools partnering for fall celebration

LYNN – There is a celebration in store for third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Harrington and Cobbet elementary schools this fall, but the kickoff actually starts this summer.”Flat AJ,” a Seussian-style character designed by Gordon College staffers, has been distributed to the college’s students as well as Harrington and Cobbet teachers in hopes that everyone will take him on a summer adventure.Harrington Elementary Principal Debra Ruggiero said the idea is to send pictures taken with Flat AJ to the college, and those pictures will be used as part of a larger celebration in October.”It’s going to be absolutely huge,” she said referring to the celebration. “We’re very excited.”Harrington and Gordon College have a long history dating back to when the elementary school was first deemed a Level 4, or underperforming, school in the eyes of the state. Last year Harrington officially exited Level 4 status, and this year Gordon College celebrates its 125th anniversary. It also just so happens that the college’s director of community engagement, Val Buchanan, sits on Harrington’s School Improvement Council.”She said she would love to do something with the school to celebrate,” Ruggiero said.Ruggiero said Cobbet has been included because its principal, Susanne Garrity, once worked at Harrington, a Level 3 School that, like Harrington, is working hard to improve.”We saw an opportunity to become almost like sister schools,” Ruggiero said.Harrington fourth- and fifth-graders have been visiting Gordon College for a number of years as part of a college access program.Buchanan said, in a letter to Harrington and Cobbet parents, that this new program is a chance to take the partnership to a new level and create a new college access model.According to Ruggiero, on Oct. 24 the college will actually close for the day. Students, this time including third-graders, will arrive around 9 a.m. and each class by grade level will attend a college class, theater arts, philosophy, science or math, then go to lunch escorted by one of the athletic teams.”And at the end of the day there will be a mock graduation,” Ruggiero said. “All the faculty will dress up in their paraphernalia and hand out certificates to the kids.”Buchanan wrote that Gordon College students will also do a pre-visit to the school on Oct. 14 to get the students ready and will distribute copies of the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.” The book will also be the basis for a play that will be written and performed by the college kids for the students on Oct. 24.”The main character in the Seuss book will be the lead character in the original play ? we are calling him “AJ,” Buchanan wrote.She said any photos sent in showing Flat AJ on his summer vacation will be utilized during the fall presentation.Ruggiero said Cobbet and Harrington teachers will get the first taste of what the day will be like later this summer during the first few days of an annual retreat.”We’re really looking forward to it all,” she said. “It’s going to be huge.”