Mark Nolan

Aloha from Mark Nolan in Hawaii!

Happy Birthday, Piney!

And congratulations, PGS, on your 30th anniversary!

I remember the opening of Pine Grove school like it was yesterday. The start of the 1991–1992 school year in September 1991 was an exciting day for everyone involved! Most thrilled were certainly the students! They were SO-O-O excited to be attending their brand new, beautiful school.  And of course their parents were also very pleased to see how happy their children were. The teachers and staff – – beyond excited and thrilled! Me? I did not sleep a wink the night before! Thrilled? Certainly! Happy? Of course! And add  some nervousness to that excitement.

At about 9:30 in the morning, after all of the students were settled in their new classrooms, I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief! It all was launched without a hitch – – and without a single tear!—  Except for the parents’ tears – – tears of joy for sure!

The school community quickly built momentum. Pine Grove School brought together students & their families, teachers & staff from both sides of town; from what had been the Towpath School, eastern part of Avon and from Roaring Brook, the westside. It was immediately obvious that we were one— Pine Grove School.

Mahalo! (Hawaiian for thank you). For maintaining the rich traditions and outstanding school community that we built early on and that you have continued to grow.

I think about you often and regularly. I can feel your joy, your excitement about learning and your sense of belonging. I hope that you can sense the part of my heart that I left behind when I retired 15 years ago!

Best wishes to all of you and to our school! Looking forward to the next 30 years! 

Mark Nolan

Principal, Pine Grove School, 1991-2006