Fort Huachuca, Arizona - Laughter, conversation and other happy sounds provided background noise Aug. 5 as Fort Huachuca students officially ended summer vacation and headed back to the classroom to begin the 2015/16 school year.
Excitement seemed to be a shared emotion among teachers, parents and students.
"I'm excited -- very excited," said Colonel Smith Middle School technology instructor Suzanne Jennings who teaches students in grades six through eight.
"It's going to be a great year! I'm excited about meeting new students and seeing returning students -- and I got a new lunch box," Jennings exclaimed as she displayed her Dr. Seuss-themed "One fish, two fish" lunch box.
"We are going to do a lot of computer work [in class this year] which is what the kids enjoy."
Proud parent Cassie Donovan was caught at her home in the act of photographing her son, William, 5, sporting a new backpack for his first day of kindergarten at Colonel Johnston Elementary School.
"He is very excited," Donovan said as she described her son's feelings about starting school. She explained how William woke up that morning, tapped his sleeping brother on the shoulder and said, "Wake up. I can't be late."
Jenny Hassan, mother of Johnston School student, Claire, 7, said her daughter was very excited about going back to school. They were part of a group waiting for the school bus at a stop on Fort Huachuca's Old Post. Another mother, Kristina Moffett, parent of Colonel Myer Elementary School student, Noah, 9, summed up her feelings about the beginning of school in one exclamation, "Whoo-hoo!"
Elizabeth Garcia, a Johnston School cafeteria worker, was one of a number of crossing guards working in the Fort's school crossing zones to ensure children made it safely to their destinations on the first day of class. Members of Fort Huachuca's police force along with other security personnel were out in force for the safety of Families and unaccompanied youth headed to school.
As on most first days of class, there was an atmosphere of controlled chaos at all three Fort Huachuca accommodation schools. At least one parent brought their child to the wrong school and a number of new students got lost in the maze of hallways as they travelled to class. Office administration personnel spent a hectic few hours guiding or directing everyone to their correct locations.
Christa Jones, principal, Colonel Smith Middle School, said, "It's wonderful to see all the excited faces of both the students and staff on the first day of school," a sentiment echoed by Johnson School principal Jennifer Truitt Lewis who added that, "The first day sets the tone for the rest of the year, and I think that this will be a great year."
Now that school is back in session, drivers should be especially cautious when travelling through housing areas when children are travelling to school and carefully adhere to the posted speed limits. Remember that pedestrians always have the right of way, and drivers must always stop for those preparing to enter the crosswalks.
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