Portsmouth Students Head Back to School

Adam Sandler's character Billy Madison said it best when he sang, "Back to School. Back to School. To prove to dad that I'm not a fool."

For the students of Portsmouth, those lyrics might have been sung Wednesday morning as they headed back to the classroom. 

Classes began early at Portsmouth High School with the first bell ringing at 7:25 a.m. A few students arrived a little late just as the bell rang and could be seen running while holding their backpacks in one hand.

On the other side of town, traffic became congested near Glen Farm, heading south on East Main Road. Traffic was heaviest turning onto Union Street towards Portsmouth Middle School.

A long line of school buses could be seen dropping off students at the school, where the first bell was expected to ring at 8 a.m.

Assistant Principal João Arruda was on hand to guide students to the correct entrance. Several students with bewildered faces exited the bus and could be heard saying "Where do I go?"

Fourth and fifth-graders not only began a new school year Wednesday, but are also learning their way around a whole new building.

An additional 400 students will join Portsmouth Middle School this year in a major transition effort that was executed due to budget cuts. The fourth and fifth-graders will be housed in separate wings at the middle school.

These students come from Melville Elementary School, Hathaway Elementary School and the former Elmhurst Elementary School.

At Melville Elementary School, the scene was quiet despite the expected arrival of students. Police officers set up posts at both entrances to the school to direct traffic.

A few teachers and students began arriving around 8:30 a.m. Classes were not expected to begin there until 8:45.

Things were busier on the other side of town, where at Hathaway Elementary School buses lined up in front of the school.

Officers also set up posts here at entrances to the parking lots for safety.

Teachers, faculty and staff waited at the school building's entrances to guide students off the bus.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Lusi also rode one of the school buses to Hathaway, where she assisted one student in finding his classroom.

Classes will continue in Portsmouth today, tomorrow and Friday. There will be no school on Monday in observance of Labor Day.

For the 2010-2011 Portsmouth school bus schedule, including stops, please click here.

For more information about Portsmouth schools, please visit the school department's Web site here.