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Students head back to school in WV
Trish BlakeÕs first grade class prepares to say the Pledge of Allegiance during the first day of school at Central City Elementary School on Tuesday August 26, 2008.
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HUNTINGTON -- About 180,000 students across the state of West Virginia went back to school Tuesday, as the 2008-09 school year got under way.
In Cabell County, roughly 12,300 students walked into a classroom at one of the 28 elementary, middle and high schools. According to Jedd Flowers, the county's communications director, all reports were that the day went smoothly.
But what some teachers and principals consider going smoothly might look like chaos to the untrained eye.
"We started enrolling students at 6:50 a.m.," Highlawn Elementary Principal Robin Harmon said. "It looks hectic, but everything is organized."
She said the school has been busy the past couple of weeks as about 50 new students were enrolled, teachers prepared classrooms and the school held a back-to-school bash. The bash drew about 225 students and parents, Harmon said, which helped take the edge off some Tuesday.
Still, tears were shed. One mom was seen crying in her car after dropping off her child, and others were seen wiping their eyes as they walked out the door of Highlawn.
For Tammy Anderson, the day was more joy and relief than sadness. She was sending her fifth and last child, 4-year-old Tania, to kindergarten.
"I cried for the first one, but I'm happy about the fifth," she said, laughing.
Anderson also has children in 10th, eighth, sixth and third grades, so the past few days were rather busy, she said.
"We just got back from vacation Sunday night, so Monday was hectic," Anderson said.
Highlawn's parent partner Tracy Hammons, who also has a son in second grade, said the first day of school brings out an array of emotions.
"I think the parents get upset because it breaks our hearts when the kids cry," Hammons said.
Things were a bit different at Martha Elementary, as students arrived at the new school. Flowers said he could tell there was more of a sense of anticipation from students, teachers and parents.
"The Martha opening was as slick as could be," Flowers said. "They loved it. Everybody's going around saying, 'Wow, this is really nice.' It's a happy little building."
For two of the middle schools, Milton and Barboursville, it was the last first day in the current buildings. Barboursville students are on schedule to move into their new school, which is being built on the other side of the gymnasium, in January. Superintendent William Smith said Milton Middle will open shortly after.
For the two principals, though, the rest of the year should provide plenty of late hours and staff meetings as they coordinate middle-of-the-year building moves.
"It's hard to imagine this is the last first day at Barboursville Middle School," Principal Jerry Lake said via e-mail. "Pretty soon, we will have the first, 'first' day at the new (school)."
But, Lake added, it's just a building, which can be replaced. What can't be replaced is the heart.
"The heart and soul of our school is not the building," he said. "Rather it is the students, teachers, staff members, parents and community supporters that are the life breath of our BMS Family. We look forward to creating new memories and traditions in a brand new state-of-the-art facility to house our students and staff."
