(BEDFORD) – The first day of school started today for the North Lawrence Community School Corporation, and Stalker Elementary Principal Brian Perry was ready to greet students and get them on the right foot.
The first day causes some students to have the jitters, not knowing what exactly to expect when they arrive.
“We want our kids to grow in their educational experience, and our teachers and staff are prepared to make that happen,” said Perry. “This year, Stalker has over 200 students with 12 teachers; two of those being kindergarten teachers,” Perry added.
This makes Perry’s fifth year of greeting students at Stalker Elementary.
Porters BackPack Program provided backpacks for each child. Turning Point Church purchased school supplies for every student, which helps with family budgets, said Perry. Free Methodist and Grace Full Gospel also provided other needed supplies.
Perry made sure students knew where their classrooms were located and stepped on school buses to find out who needed to go to breakfast before classes began.
Sandy Smoot is the librarian at the school and was seen putting on the final touches and decorating her area. She says that the library will be handing out library cards this year. K-1st grade students can use their library cards to check out one book from the library and 2nd to 5th graders can check out two books at a time.
Sharon Neuman is Reading LLI Aide who helps students who need extra help with reading. Within the first or second week of school, teachers determine who might need the added help and Neuman is prepared to help them succeed.
Tom Mcknight, who is on his 40th year as an educator, says he is ready to start the year as a third-grade teacher. During his career as a teacher, he has taught 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade classes. For almost 29 years straight he has been a third-grade teacher. He was seen decorating his classroom this morning and preparing for a new group of students before students arrived.
Out at the loading and unloading zone for the school buses, we were able to talk to Janice Neely who has been a school bus driver for over 22 years.
“I am excited to see the new students, as well as the ones I knew previously,” Neely stated. “To the public, it’s now time to slow down around the school buses, pay attention to the stop arms, and be prepared to stop. Let’s make this a safe year for the school bus drivers and students.”
Kim Morris is the school secretary for Stalker and Brian Perry pointed out she is the ‘spine of the school.’ She keeps operations running smoothly both for the staff, students and parents.
Students arrived by buses and some were dropped off by parents on their first day. Smiles could be seen by both the parents and students were ready to take on a year of learning and development during their educational experience.
