Goodwin, Students Enjoy First Day At Sprague

Sprague School's first day of school for its 400 students Wednesday also marked the debut of Principal Steve Goodwin.

Goodwin took on the principal job July 1, but Wednesday was his first meeting with students. The day, which was a half day, started off with a reception breakfast thrown by parents for the students and staff. Later, Goodwin toured each classroom and encouraged each student and staff member to "Bring their 'A' Game" Goodwin said. "That's my expectation of myself and my students and staff," he said -  that everyone bring their best effort to the day's work.

Connor Berg, 7, met up with his mom, Amy, outside the school after the day ended. He reported good fortune in teachers this year, getting an "Awesome one. Mrs. Taylor," Connor said.

Also, he noted, he got to meet the new principal. "The principal told the kids to bring their "A" Game to school every day," Connor said

Savannah Young, 9,  was also at the school at the end of the day with her mom, Elizabeth. She said she ended the day with homework.

However, Elizabeth said, "We also got a new principal that we're very excited about," Elizabeth said, "He has a lot of energy."

Inside the foyer, circles of colored construction paper with welcoming messages written on them, strewn across the floor, greeted visitors to the school. The circles were the work of art teachers Jen Stabnick and Elisa Gillis, and were still there at the end of the day, though the pieces of paper weren't held down by any thing. "Somehow they made it through 400 kids and a bunch of staff and parents," Goodwin said, smiling.

 "It was a good day," the new principal said.