First day of school at Hudson Junior, Senior High

HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Students at Hudson Junior Senior High School went to school for the first day on Wednesday. Nearly 1,500 students across the district are headed back for the new school year. The school has made several changes to the district in both staffing and to the building itself.

The superintendent of the Hudson City School District Dr. Juliette Pennyman, said the most exciting addition to the campus this year is the Bluehawk Cafe, which is a remodeled version of the cafeteria that was made to give students the feel of a real cafe. The project took about a year to fully complete. The school leaders plan on putting up flags in the cafeteria to represent the different cultures within the district.

"We have upgraded the furniture in our cafeteria, so we have flexible seating, we have high tables, a regular round tables," Pennyman said. "We also have just all of the colors; it’s in the colors of our school, which is the blue and the gold.”

Lisa McGovern, the food service director with BOCES shared food service division, said this upgrade came as a surprise for students.

"They were eyes wide, screaming yelling, saying how amazing it was and really it was really awesome," McGovern.

There will also be thirteen new teachers starting in the district. As well as new courses such as agriculture, math, social studies, and financial literacy. Students will also receive new Chromebooks, and will be taught how to use the devices by teachers who are also getting trained by personnel on site.