Bowling Green City Schools is preparing for new students, new adventures and new challenges as students and staff prepare to start the new school year.

New Superintendent Ted Haselman led a pep rally on Friday to welcome everyone back.

“We get to change lives. We get to impact kids and future generations. We get to positively impact our families and our community as a whole,” Haselman said.

The event started in the middle school. The Bobcat Marching Band led teachers to the Performing Arts Center while playing the fight song.

The Bowling Green City Schools Bobcat Marching Band entertained during Friday’s all-staff opening day assembly in the Performing Arts Center. The trombone sections played Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” which was a hit two decades before they were born.

Superintendent Ted Haselman speaks at Friday’s opening day ceremonies.

Marie Thomas-Baird | Sentinel-Tribune

“I am beyond excited to be here today,” said Haselman, who was hired in May.

Bowling Green State University President Rodney Rogers said he is excited about all the possibilities, with Haselman joining the school district.

K-12 education is the foundation for all students who come to BGSU, and those students have been impacted by public education, he said.

Bowling Green has been named by Zillow as one of the top three college towns in America.

“That is only possible because you have a community that is built on education. So the work you do each and every day, we so appreciate it,” Rogers said.

Rogers and Haselman are discussing partnerships between the district and university.

“We have great partnerships already, but I think we can do more together,” he said.

“We look forward to growing that partnership with the university,” Haselman added.

Bowling Green Mayor Michael Aspacher, who is a Bowling Green High School graduate, also spoke at the opening day event.

“We are so excited for him to bring his leadership to our community,” he said about Haselman.

Aspacher said he has talked with several of the new teachers and shared with them his appreciation for the work they do.

“It has long been my belief that one of the most important responsibilities of any community is that responsibility to educate the young people,” he said. “From my perspective, the work you do in our community is so important and so valued, I just want to take a minute to say thank you for all the things that you do.”

Aspacher said he also is looking for opportunities to work with the district and to make sure the city is doing all it can do to support the school district.

Board of education member Norm Geer compared education to football.

Also a BGHS graduate, Geer said football is the quintessential team game, just like education.

“It will not succeed unless everybody does their part,” he said.

He compared the administrators and teachers to the coaches and quarterbacks, but there are many other participants who are part of the team.

Geer listed paraprofessionals, aides, treasurers, secretaries, counselors, cafeteria workers, custodians, ground crews, bus drivers, volunteers — and all of the subs for those positions.

“The board recognizes the importance of this teamwork and is firmly committed to doing everything within our power and resources to appreciate, support and empower each and every member of our team,” Geer said.

“We know that only by working together we can provide the quality education that each child deserves, and the community rightfully expects,” he said.

Jeff Nichols, president of the Bowling Green Education Association, said there is a sense of giddiness with the beginning of a new school year.

He has been with the district for 33 years “and I’ve enjoyed almost every one of them.”

When he looks around, Nichols said that he sees future doctors, lawyers, teachers, mechanics and tradesmen.

“I’m grateful that I teach in a school where we have the staff … that cares about kids and has done a pretty good job,” Nichols said.

It be great to have the facilities to match the staff, he said. The district has a $90 million new high school tax issue on the November ballot.

Haselman is “the best cheerleader and team captain for us,” Nichols said.

Haselman said over the summer before he officially started as superintendent, he asked the administrators for a 30-second elevator speech about what the school does very well — and what areas can be improved.

There was a common theme of the great staff, he said.

“We have wonderful teachers and support staff, everyone,” Haselman said.

He said he is excited to build relationships with those in the school system and in the community and promised that the elementaries haven’t been forgotten.

“Great things can happen when everyone is running in the same direction,” Haselman said.

Treasurer Cathy Schuller, OAPSE President Tina Bath and Director of Curriculum and Pupil Services Angie Schaal also spoke.

Bath presented Haselman with a blanket she made.

BGCS Foundation representatives Melanie Ferguson and Dan Black explained the grant and scholarship process.

The BGHS string quartet and Madrigals also performed during the morning event and new staff members were introduced.