With smiles on their faces and a bounce in their steps, North Palos School District 117 students were excited about starting school Friday after enjoying some well-deserved time off this summer.
One of those students was Hickory Hills' sixth grader Andros Senodenos, who said he was still relishing winning a summer-league baseball championship. "I had a really good summer," said Andros, who was sporting a Houston Astros' Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan jersey. "I love baseball and I really enjoy playing it with my friends."
Andros said he was equally excited about starting a new grade - and a new school.
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"I've got friends who will be here with me and I'll have a chance to make some new friends," he said. "And that's awesome!"
Salma Amer, also a sixth-grader from Hickory Hills, said she enjoyed her summer "hanging out with friends" and said she looked forward to starting junior high school. "New friends, new classes and new teachers," she said. "What's not to be happy about?"
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Administrators and staff from the district office along with teachers and staff from all five of the schools worked together to help make the first day of school run smoothly. One of those staff members was Conrady Principal Adrienne Muniz, who again dressed in her orange and white traffic cone costume to help direct student drop-off.
