Published: August 13, 2008 10:59 pm            

Students are back in school

The big yellow buses are back on the road, as Kokomo-area students returned to school Wednesday.

Students returned to classes at Eastern, Western, Kokomo-Center, Northern of Tipton County, Peru and Maconaquah schools Wednesday.

Today is the first student day for the Taylor and Northwestern school corporations, and Tipton returns Friday.

Western Superintendent Peter O’Rourke said, though, that today is the exciting day, because it will be the first day kindergarten students ride the bus.

For Wednesday’s first day, kindergarten children came to school with their parents to meet teachers and see their classrooms. Today, they begin the full-day kindergarten program.

“It will be the first time for many of these parents to drop off their little kids for a full day,” he said, adding that he expects there will be some tears shed, both by children and parents.

O’Rourke said the majority of the school’s construction project is complete, with only the new high school entrance to be finished. That project should be done by October.

At Western High School, Principal Rick Davis said the first day went “exceptionally well, considering all the construction changes.” Students and teachers began moving into the new wing in May, and this year is the first full year in that section.

Davis said a few students had trouble finding classrooms, but “everyone pitched in and everyone ended up in the right place.”

Intermediate School Principal Heather Hendrich said her school’s enrollment jumped to 596 students, so “our new additions came in just at the right time.”

Lee Williford, superintendent of the Northern Community Schools of Tipton County, reported no problems with the first day of school. He said teachers are learning to use a new student management system on their computers, and once they are comfortable with that system, parents will be able to access it to see how their children are performing at school.

Williford expects stable enrollment this year.

Peru High School Principal Chuck Brimbury said the first day at his school was “fantastic.”

“We have great kids and teachers,” he said.

Maconaquah Superintendent Debra Jones reported record enrollment in kindergarten, with 198 students. She said the corporation had to hire two additional kindergarten teachers because of record enrollment.

Wednesday was the first day for buses dedicated to taking all preschool, kindergarten and first-graders to Pipe Creek Elementary without having to change buses at Maconaquah Elementary, she said, and “everything went smoothly this morning in getting our students to the right schools.”

At Eastern High School, Principal Lisa Smith said the year started on a positive note, with an all-school assembly to recognize student achievement from the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

She said some students had come in before classes began to decorate their lockers so they were ready for the first day.

“We had an awesome beginning to our school year,” she said. “The kids seemed excited to be back.”

Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com

        

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