Evans City Middle School Principal Timothy Eiler takes selfies with Seneca Valley School District students Wednesday. Staff members greeted the students with big smiles, despite the hot weather.

JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley School District “rolled out the red carpet” for its Evans City Middle and Elementary School students Wednesday, on the first day of school.

The 2018-19 school year began at 8:55 a.m. for kindergarten- to sixth-grade students in the district. Evans City Middle School Principal Timothy Eiler kicked off the new school year by taking selfies with students as they got off the buses.

Fourth grade teacher Kristin Schlemner said she was thrilled for the first day of school — even though it’s her 18th one in the school district.

“There’s no other profession where you get to start fresh every year like this,” Schlemner said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the kids.”

Because her class level is often associated with children leaving parents for the first time, kindergarten teacher Lindsey Read said that she advises worried adults to “trust the process.”

“It all flows after the first day,” she said. “It becomes easier.”

Read agreed with Schlemner about getting to know the kids being the most exciting part of the day.

“They grow so much through the year,” Read said. “Kindergarten is special because they come in just learning what letters are, and by the end of the year, they’re readers.”