Norwich — More than 200 parents and students crammed into the new sixth-grade academy at Teachers' Memorial School on Thursday for an open house and tour of the program that was established after spring budget constraints forced restructuring of the former middle school system.

Parents came armed with numerous questions about the curriculum, class arrangements, after-school activities and homework.

They left with informational handouts answering some of those questions and inviting them back for another open house and a potluck supper Sept. 15. School starts next Wednesday.

“We never had to deal with this before, so I don't know,” said Desiree Desilus, mother of incoming sixth-grader Jayden Desilus, 11. “They say the class sizes will be smaller.”

Jayden, who would have attended Teachers' Memorial Middle School in the old school structure, said he's fine with the change and mostly looks forward to gym class.

“It's a good school,” his father, Chris Desilus, said. “They seem like they know what's going on.”

The Board of Education approved the cost-cutting transformation in June to convert Teachers' Memorial into a sixth-grade-only school for all Norwich sixth-graders and to send all seventh- and eighth-graders to Kelly Middle School.

The rear ground floor of Teachers' Memorial also will house a special education program for elementary-aged students.

Thursday's hourlong session drew much larger crowds than expected.

After a brief welcoming session in the sweltering standing-room-only cafeteria, teachers and Principal Alexandria Lazzari divided participants into four large groups for tours of the school and gatherings in classrooms for direct questions.

Science teacher Tiffany Kaminski's classroom has air conditioning, but when about 40 students, parents and siblings crowded into the room, the AC couldn't meet the need.

Parents' questions centered on the prospect of having after-school activities, how academic progress will be tracked and whether students needing remedial help will have the assistance they require.

Superintendent Abby Dolliver said the school system hopes to continue the Aspire middle school after-school program, but is awaiting a state grant to fund the program.

Vivian Williams, Aspire coordinator last year, said the program included club activities such as videography, world languages, a combined fashion and science club, and basketball that included games with other schools.

Dolliver hopes to learn about the grant “any day now.”

Norwich parents have been asking that world language classes be restored to the middle school, since they were eliminated several years ago in budget cuts. A Spanish program has been restored this year at both Teachers' Memorial and Kelly Middle School, Dolliver said.

Sixth-grade parent Daisymay Sandi said Thursday's overcrowding has her concerned for how the school will handle large crowds in the future for big events, such as parent-teacher conferences and open houses.

She expressed that concern to Dolliver as the crowd thinned Thursday night, and Dolliver said school officials plan to “do things differently” at future events, such as dividing participants into smaller groups.

Still, Sandi said she prefers the traditional three-grade middle school system for student interaction and stability.

“It's kind of ridiculous,” Sandi said. “I disagree with it, having one school for one grade. I was in middle school, grades six through eight. It's a lot better.”

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday