ROCHESTER — After being open for more than a week, students and staff at the state’s first magnet school remain excited about a new program introducing French to younger children.

Maple Street Magnet School began sessions Aug. 7, getting a head start on its 200 days of lessons for students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

“It’s been going really well,” Principal Robin Brown said, adding that students, parents and staff are motivated since everyone wants to take part in the French program.

“The kids have been coming in ready to learn,” Brown said, adding that students will show off their first completed projects during a formal grand opening on Aug. 29 — when other schools in the city are scheduled to begin.

“The real story will be when we’re here in June when everyone else is out of school,” Brown said, referring to the extended school year.

Zander Walbridge, a second-grader, said he loves the new program and is eager to learn more French.

His mother, Tracy Walbridge, said she is thrilled that Rochester took the initiative to start a magnet program and hopes it will spread to other schools.

“I would like it to be open to all (of the schools in) the district,” Walbridge said, adding the program challenges students with high expectations set through individual learning plans.

While the Maple Street Magnet School received a technological boost and had its air conditioning system upgraded, Brown said students still focus on a traditional curriculum of reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as learning French.

Kindergartners will learn French for about fifteen minutes at a time for three to four days a week, while other students will study it for up to a half-hour daily.

Melissa Cunliffe, who teaches fourth grade, said she’s amazed how quickly students are learning to express themselves in French.

Reading specialist Bonnie Mulcahey, who previously worked at McClelland Elementary School, said everyone is excited about the program, which encourages individual growth and accomplishment.

“This isn’t a flash in a pan — this is a long-term process,” Mulcahey said, adding the program adds 20 days to the normal school year.

While students and staff are in class in August, Mulcahey said the schedule opens up opportunities and she hopes to travel to Paris next October — during the school’s fall break.

For more information about the new program at the Maple Street Magnet School, visit rochesterschools.com/Maple/index.html.

Meanwhile, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, which takes pride in its early start, welcomes incoming freshmen and transfer students to the high school along the 1st N.H. Turnpike — Route 4 — Friday at 9:30 a.m., according to Headmaster Dave Smith.

Smith said the orientation provides a relaxed environment for new students to get accustomed to the campus before classes begin Monday.

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John Quinn may be reached at jquinn@newstote.com.