As another summer break draws to a close, the students of the strapped on their book bags, clutched hold of their lunchboxes, and headed off for another year of education Thursday.
“We are happy to report a smooth, safe and successful start of the school year," Superintendent Charles Sulc said Thursday afternoon.
"Our facilities staff has worked tirelessly preparing our buildings and classrooms for opening day and we thank them for their efforts. We look forward to another wonderful year of challenging and preparing our students for success.”
At , there was a buzz in the air, as crowds of parents, some happy, some tearful, walked hand-in-hand with their children to see them off on the first day of school.
As a devoted mother, Karrie Reilly clearly had mixed feelings about letting her little ones go after spending their summer break with them.
“It’s exciting...they’re excited to go back,” she said. “But I’ll miss them...we had a nice summer together.”
Her daughter, Kaitlyn, was starting fourth grade that day, and couldn’t wait to start learning.
“I’m looking forward to meeting my new teacher,” she said. “My favorite subject is science, and I can’t wait.”
Jennifer Garren, while admitting to some sadness at seeing her son off, nonetheless welcomed having a little extra time to herself.
“I’m excited for him, but dropping him off for his first day of school is bittersweet,” she said. “I enjoy spending time with him, but it’s good for them to go to school and I get to have a break from them for a little while.”
Her son, David, was a tad worried as the prospect of starting second grade, but took comfort in having his pals around.
“I’m a little nervous, but all my friends are here, so that’s good,” he said.
Some parents, such as Lauran Carroll, were somewhat unhappy regarding the earlier-than-usual start of school this year.
“Summer vacation was a little shorter this time around because we had to come back before Labor Day,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s here already...it went quickly. But I’m happy and sad...it’s my daughter’s last year here at Lockhart.”
Her daughter, Sam Carol, is a sixth grader at Lockhart. Next year she’ll find herself at .
“It’s exciting, because you’re the oldest person there, and there are more opportunities,” she said. “But it’s kinda sad too, because it’s the last time you’re ever going to be here. I like Lockhart...it’s nice.”
Her brother, David, who’s starting third grade, hasn’t made up his mind if he’ll miss not going to school with his big sister next year.
“Um...I don’t know,” he said. “Like, half and half. It’s good and bad, I guess.”
While she said she knows she will miss having her some around as much, Eunice Casillo was also relieved to be getting back to her usual daytime routine.
“It actually feels good,” she said. “I work, so it’s kind of nice to have them back in school, so you’re not shuffling them back and forth from camp. And they’re excited to be starting school. So that’s great too.”
Jordan, her son, obviously found the prospect of starting first grade a little daunting...until he spotted a familiar face.
“I like to come here and see my friends,” he said. “And here comes one of them right now!”
Fourth grader Erin Doerr was walking to school with her mother, Colleen, and while she was sad summer was over, the social prospects of a new school year had her raring to go.
“I can’t wait to see all my friends who I didn’t get to see over the summer,” she said. “But I’m sad that summer vacation is over...I’m going to miss getting to go in the pool every day.”
Jennifer Weitzman wasn’t happy about seeing her son off to his first day of school that morning, especially considering the fact that it was happening sooner than usual this year.
“I always have some anxiety on the first day of school,” she said. “It’s a feeling that just stays with us from childhood...the end of summer. I’m a little upset that school’s stating in August this year as well. That certainly took me by surprise.”
Third grader Zachary, her son, was taking his time warming up to the prospect of returning to school once again.
“I’m a little excited,” he said. “I got to go to camp this summer, and I miss it. I wish summer wasn’t over.”
