Relationships take center stage as North Hills welcomes back teachers, staff

North Hills School District welcomed teachers and staff back Tuesday morning, Aug. 18, for Opening Day 2026, bringing employees from across the district together at the North Hills Middle School auditorium to celebrate the start of a new school year and the relationships at the heart of safe, successful schools.

The morning began with familiar North Hills traditions. The North Hills Marching Band kicked off the program, elementary students led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the annual Welcome Back choir ensemble, made up of North Hills students, performed the national anthem and North Hills High School alma mater.

From there, Opening Day took a less traditional turn.

School Board President Allison Mathis interrupted Superintendent Dr. Patrick Mannarino's planned remarks to launch "The Opening Day Show with Allison Mathis," complete with a late-night television-style introduction and Dr. Mannarino as her first guest.

The lighthearted format set the stage for the morning's larger message: school safety begins with relationships.

Mathis and Dr. Mannarino discussed the many layers of school safety, from physical security and emergency preparedness to the connections built every day inside North Hills schools.

"When a student feels connected to an adult in the school, they're more likely to come to school, engage in learning, ask for help, report concerns, and look out for others," Dr. Mannarino said. "Relationships create trust, and trust creates safer schools."

He challenged employees to intentionally connect with students who may not naturally seek them out—learning their names, discovering their interests, celebrating their progress and making sure they know someone believes in them.

The morning then transitioned to "The Opening Day Show with Pat Mannarino," where students and staff continued the conversation.

Members of the North Hills High School Student Leadership Council joined Dr. Mannarino to share what safety looks and feels like from a student's perspective. Rising seniors Hannah Billing and Patrick Stephens, rising junior Scarlett McCarthy and rising sophomore Riley Simmons discussed the ways teachers help them feel safe and supported, situations that can unintentionally make students feel unsafe, and the connection between safety and belonging.

North Hills School Police also joined the program, reminding employees that safety is a shared responsibility. The conversation emphasized the importance of knowing students well enough to notice when something changes, trusting instincts and speaking up when something does not seem right.

The message extended beyond safety to the everyday interactions that shape a student's experience at North Hills.

"Every interaction matters. Every smile matters. Every conversation matters," Dr. Mannarino told staff.

Opening Day concluded with a year-in-review video celebrating accomplishments and memorable moments from across the district during the 2025-26 school year. From academics, athletics and the arts to classroom experiences, service and community partnerships, the video reinforced the morning's message: behind every achievement are relationships with people who encourage, support and believe in students.

The video ended with North Hills High School's spring production of Mamma Mia!, which played to six sold-out audiences, earned six Gene Kelly Award nominations and won Outstanding Lighting Design.

Then, in one final Opening Day surprise, three students from the production took the stage for a live performance of "Dancing Queen," bringing teachers and staff to their feet and officially kicking off another year at North Hills.

The morning was both a celebration of another successful year and a reminder of the work ahead: building the relationships that help every student feel seen, supported and safe.

The first day of school for students is Tuesday, Aug. 25. Get complete details at www.nhsd.net/backtoschool.