Students will return to the Coupeville School District on Sept. 4 for a new school year with new faces, programs and school improvements.

At the elementary school, a new addition to the school’s multi-purpose room is on track to be completed in time for the first day of school.

Adrienne Maguire will be the new first grade teacher at the elementary school. Mark Noste will teach a newly implemented STEM position.

There are two new teaching hires at Coupeville Middle School. Cheyenne Beck will be the new full-time school counselor and ASB advisor. Erin Locke will be joining the school as a physical education teacher. He comes from Eastern Washington University. With the new hire, Coupeville Middle School will have P.E for every student, every day.

“Being active is important for all students, and we now have the ability to keep all students moving,” Geoff Kappes, Coupeville Middle School principal said in an email.

The middle school science classes will be utilizing a new online curriculum called Amplify. The goal of the program is to allow students to immerse themselves in the material. It comes with classroom-based experiment kits, which will allow students to see scientific concepts in action.

The school will be continuing their positive behavior recognition program, where students are recognized for doing the right thing in school by earning “Pack Bucks,” which can be spent at the student store, the Wolf Den.

In athletics, the middle school will have a new sports option this year — a cross country team. Elizabeth Bitting will be coaching the program. The football team will now be coached by Brett Casey.

“Coach Casey has coached football for many years and is excited to start teaching a new group of Wolf athletes,” Kappes said.

The school has a new Wolf mascot design, made specifically for the middle school, and has been put onto t-shirts and sweatshirts for student pride.

Kappes, who was hired in 2017, said he has enjoyed getting to know the students, families and community.

“Our goals for the 2018-2019 school year are to continue adopting middle school specific strategies of support for all students,” he said. “We will focus on stressing positive social and academic behaviors, high levels of achievement, and of course some fun too. We look forward to continuing to support our students in their educational journey and help them determine their paths to success. Go Wolves.”

The high school will have several new coaches, including Marcus Carr as football head coach and Bobby Carr, Tyson Boon, Kwamane Bowens and Nate Bellamy as football assistant coaches. Natasha Bamberger will coach the new cross country team. Susan Rogers will be a new math teacher, Melissa Casey will teach Special Services, Brad Sherman will teach social studies and Christie Kappes will teach science. There will be new “college in the classroom” classes to provide students with more college credit options.

The school district announced in June that Steve King will be the new district superintendent for this upcoming school year.

“I can’t wait for school to start and to get to see the Coupeville kids and getting to know them,” King said.

The high school teams have left the Olympic League and are now part of the newly formed North Sound League.

Student enrollment is projected to be the same as past years, with roughly 980 students.