Photo Gallery: Back to School

After the Labor Day weekend, 3,814 Cranford students spilled through the hallways of the district's seven schools Tuesday. It was the first day of the 10-month school year and many were excited.

"It's awesome," said Ryan, a fourth-grader at Hillside Avenue School, who took a break from eagerly opening his new locker to talk with Cranford Patch. "We got combination locks." 

At Brookside Place School, Steve and Carol Ebersole picked-up their son, Jason, from his first day of kindergarten. 

"I had mixed emotions," Carol said, adding that she felt both sad and glad to see him head off on his own. "I was excited for him. He's ready, he's more than ready."

Julie Horne sent her two youngest children to kindergarten for the first time. With four kids overall, she added that she's become almost used to the accompanying lump-in-the-throat as she waves goodbye.

"This time it's much easier," she said. 

A few students always cry after being dropped off every year on the first day of school, kindergarten teacher Anne Marie Francis said. But this year there were only a couple of teary-eyed students, which she said she saw as a good sign.

"It went really well," she said. And in the hope that it will help to prolong her students' excitement about class, Francis had her students yell "kindergarten rocks!" out the door before releasing them to parents waiting outside at the end of the school day. She explained that "Kindergarten Rocks" is the name of the book she plans on reading the class Wednesday. 

Orientation

At both Cranford High School and Hillside Avenue School, instructors and staff helped students get acquainted with their new surroundings. At Cranford High School, principal Rui Dionisio explained the freshman orientation process.

Yesterday was a half-day for most high schoolers, while freshmen stayed until the last bell. During the rest of the day, upperclassmen volunteers answered questions and led the new class through icebreaker activities. 

"It's an opportunity for students to get questions answered that we haven't addressed yet," he said. "It's (also) a way for upperclassmen to connect with freshmen." 

At Hillside Avenue School, teachers helped orient younger children in a more visual way. Students ranging in age from kindergarten to second grade were guided on a "scavenger hunt." Using laminated "Cougar" paw prints as clues, students hunted for a Cougar stuffed animal, which teachers hid in different rooms of the school. The game helps students learn where to find certain classrooms and administrative offices, Principal Curt Fogas said. 

Administrative heads also said they were excited to kickstart the school year. "Much like a sporting event, this is the opening," Fogas said. "You prepare throughout the summer; this is what it's all about."

Superintendent of Schools Gayle Carrick agreed. "In my visits with teachers and students, everyone was most excited to be back," Carrick said via e-mail.  "It's great to have our doors open for learning again."