SEEKONK — There will be a bunch of new faces in the Seekonk schools this year.

Besides new students, 21 new teachers are joining the school district, many of them in special education instruction.

Hurley Middle School has a new principal, Joan C. Fargnoli, who was previously a principal in Johnston. Fargnoli replaces Jane L. Daly, who has become the school district’s director of curriculum development. Longtime Hurley science teacher Mary Westcoat has been promoted to assistant principal.

Schools Supt. Emile Chevrette said the new teachers will bring a “tremendous amount of energy and excitement” to the school system.

“They seem very excited and very pleased to be in this district,” Chevrette said. “They know Seekonk has a lot to offer.”

The new teachers will be paired with veteran instructors, who will act as mentors.

The school district has more than 200 new computers this year. Over the summer, a number of teachers participated in workshops to learn how to use SMART Boards, the new interactive whiteboards they’ll also use in the classrooms this year.

While classes don’t start until tomorrow, many students have already been busy at sports practices. More than half of Seekonk High School’s student body is on a fall sports team, Chevrette said. For the second year in a row, the school district is not charging athletic or busing fees.

This year, third graders will join first and second graders in taking swimming lessons during the school day. Two classes will visit the high school pool daily for a two-week-long session.

Another change for this year: The high school’s graduation ceremony will be held, for the first time in recent memory, on a Friday night — June 12 — instead of a Saturday afternoon. Chevrette said the school district made the change after students, staff and families sweated through one too many ceremonies on hot Saturdays.

mwims@projo.com