They came in waves – first a few, then a few more, then a whole bunch.
As the sun peeked over the horizon outside Cedar Valley Elementary School in Killeen, the line of students and family members moved with purpose to the front door past a volunteer greeter and into the school.
It was a similar scene across Killeen ISD Monday as tens of thousands of students made their way back to school, welcomed by campus and district staff, as well as volunteers as they got down to the business of learning.
Cedar Valley Principal Phylicia Miner welcomed families inside and administrative staff jumped into the job of the first day of school, moving, directing and guiding children to the correct hallway and their specific classroom.
“It’s exciting,” said Miner. “It’s exciting to see them and to hear their stories. The parents even come up and hug us. They are excited to see us, too.”
“Our biggest goal is for them to come in and know they are loved and welcome and make sure they all get home safe,” said the principal.
“First days have surprises and it’s always exciting to get to see the kids again.”
Second-grade teacher Heidi Spann, in her 28th year teaching, was thrilled to welcome her newest students to class. Most ate breakfast the school provides and then began unpacking supplies into desks and colored first day pictures.
Following pledges and other announcements, students shared something they enjoyed about the summer as they smacked a beach ball to one another.
“The first day for me is about building relationships, getting to know each other, letting them know that they are loved, that we see them that I believe in them and we are going to have a successful year,” said Spann.
“Every year is new. I still get excited and nervous and I want them to be successful and want them to want to come back tomorrow.”
Later in the morning, at Nolanville Elementary School pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students began touring parts of the building, walking through the library and the cafeteria.
Upstairs in Joshua Cannon’s classroom fourth-graders placed stickers on journals to specify different subjects before diving into their first lessons.
“The best part of the first day is to see all the students come in all excited,” said Nolanville Principal Jenna McArthur.
“They are so happy to get to their classroom. They are excited to be here and excited to learn. You see their energy and they are ready.”
“We want them to want to be here,” she said, “because they really learn when they want to be here.”
Photos of the first day of school and other KISD events are accessible at www.killeenisd.org/photos
More information is available at www.killeenisd.org/b2s