BY JENN MCDOWELL

Despite a slightly larger number of students, Candia’s Henry Moore School enjoyed a smooth first week, according to Principal Robert St. Cyr.

A total of 474 students reported for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 27, up from last year’s first day total of 456, said St. Cyr.

That higher number, he said, is not yet indicative of a large increase in enrollment because it will likely fluctuate this month as students enter and leave the school district.

By law, schools have to report their enrollment totals to the state by October. By that time, St. Cyr said, the numbers will be more concrete.

“We’re moving along,” St. Cyr said, adding that faculty and staff have been preparing all summer for the extra kids.

St. Cyr said the first week of school went smoothly overall at Moore School, including the first fire drill of the year on Thursday, Aug. 30.

“It was the quietest, most efficient fire drill I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing. The kids took it very seriously,” he said.

While the school may be a little more crowded this year, St. Cyr said class sizes has remained pretty constant compared to last year, ranging in size from 15 to 24 students.

That being said, St. Cyr said he is thrilled about the plans for the new Candia/Auburn middle school, a potential development that still has to pass through voters before coming to fruition.

“I am so excited for Auburn and Candia because I think, for this moment in time and the next 10, 15, even 20 years, it’s the best move that both towns could make,” St. Cyr said.

The opening of the new school would allow Moore School to change over to an elementary school, which St. Cyr believes would be beneficial to both the school itself and Candia and Auburn students.

Currently, students attend Moore School from kindergarten to eighth grade, then go straight into high school, most of them to Manchester Central, which St. Cyr believes deprives his students of a true middle school transition.

He pointed out that middle-school-age children go through some tough changes hormonally, socially and educationally, and they often get too comfortable at Moore School and experience culture shock upon entering high school.

“A middle school student is not a miniature high school student, and (the Candia/Auburn middle school) would offer another transition, which I think is very important,” he said.

If the school is built and Moore is transformed into a kindergarten-through-fifth grade facility, St. Cyr said there will be more resources and programs available to students at both schools.

The new middle school would also offer more complete music, sports and extracurricular programs to students, St. Cyr pointed out.

“Programmatically, we’ll be able to better use our space to meet the needs of students,” St. Cyr said.

Public forums to get input on the new school plans from Candia and Auburn residents will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 25, both at the Auburn Village School.