New Beginnings: First Day Of School For Woonsocket Students

It was with a mix of trepidation and enthusiasm that Woonsocket public school students and in some cases, their parents, greeted a fresh school year Wednesday morning.

“I feel good,” said Freshman Alnardo Sanchez, adding that he's excited about his first experience at the high school. "I hope I pass all my classes with a high grade.”

For other freshmen at Woonsocket High School, such as Anuvong Thepsimoung, transitioning from the middle school to the high school felt like starting over. “Now, you are at the bottom, working back up.”

Thepsimoung said he's looking forward to the new opportunities and programs offered at the high school level. The transition, as he sees it, comes with greater responsibility including the choices in classes and programs, and the opportunity to earn good grades. He said his goal in the new school is “hopefully, to have more new experiences than last year.”

For Ramon Ceballos, a sophomore at the WHS, however, a new year means facing changes to the school curriculum.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said, referring to the scheduling adjustments which mean this year he'll take six classes, as opposed to last year's four.

Other returning students, like Esther Cortorreal, a senior at the WHS,  are already looking forward to the year's end. “I just want to graduate,” Cortorreal said.

For parents, the first day of school can be hectic. This week's tropical storm made the situation even more challenging for parents focused on preparating their kids for a new year in education. Four hundred and fifty homes in Woonsocket were still without power as of Wednesday night.

Involved parents escorted students in, taking instruction from teachers and volunteers. One set of parents, Tiffany and Mike Bates felt the schools should be more organized prior to the kids' first day.  

“A lot of kids here have younger siblings,” Mike said. The couple, with daughters at both Fifth Avenue Elementary and Kevin K. Coleman Elementary, faces the challenge of getting the siblings to two different schools at the same time.

Tiffany said she looks forward to hearing what her daughters do at school every day. “I’m hoping they really learn something this year.”