BETHEL — An opening-day assembly was held for Telstar High School students Tuesday to meet new staff members and learn of programs to help them succeed.

At the middle school, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students discovered that team teaching in the four academic content areas began again after a yearlong hiatus.

Superintendent David Murphy said it’s been eight years since the first day of school was the day after Labor Day.

“I’ve heard more students say they were ready to come back, and some were able to work through Labor Day rather than having to leave their summer jobs early,” Telstar High School Principal Dan Hart said.

Middle school Principal Clark Rafford said the team teaching approach will assure that students who are exceeding expectations will be recognized, and those who need additional help will get it.

He said hiring new seventh-grade math teacher Tracy Morin enabled the team approach to be reintroduced.

The middle school has an enrollment of 197 and the high school, about 243, which is several fewer than last year. Andover Elementary School enrollment came in at 28, Woodstock Elementary School at 92, and Crescent Park Elementary School, 257.

The middle school open house is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 11. And school pictures will be taken on that day as well.

Hart said several new staff members began work Tuesday, including Meryn Kelly as AmeriCorps representative/Mahoosuc Arts after-school program coordinator, Peter Pepin as educational technician, and Jim Rose as a long-term mathematics substitute.

The annual parent-teacher nights have been scheduled for 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 and Oct. 17.

Two independent foreign students, one from South Korea and one from Thailand, are enrolled. A German foreign exchange student is expected to arrive any day.

Also new at the high school is the reintroduction of weekly adviser/advisee sessions. This year, the focus will be on school citizenship and student leadership, literacy and building electronic portfolios.

Murphy said the first-day enrollment came in at about 830, down about 20 from last year.

The grades two-three class at Andover Elementary School was filled by Paul Condello from the Fryeburg area. The district had hoped to fill the position with a teaching principal, but a suitable candidate could not be found. Murphy said former teaching principal, Roger Sabin, is assisting during the first few days of school. After that, the principal’s duties will be covered by other administrators in the district, Murphy said.

Leann Caruso hass been appointed Andover school secretary as well as the district’s special services secretary.