School starts for Butler Area School District students
Many of the older students starting school Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Broad Street Elementary School led the line into its double doors ahead of the younger students, which was evident by the height difference between the front and back of the line.
The youngest students — those starting kindergarten at the school — were some of the last to go into the building, sometimes because they were nervous, and other times because their parents were nervous and giving them a final embrace.
Oliver Fair, of Butler, was led by his older brother, Apollo Conner, into the school for kindergarten, but not before his mother gave him a long hug.
“I’m excited and nervous for sure,” said Amira Fair of Butler, who is a mother of two students at Broad Street Elementary. “I’m excited for all the things they’re going to do and learn, but it’s hard when he’s not going to be with you all day.”
While many students got to the Broad Street school by bus Tuesday morning, many others were walked to the school by their parents, and some stayed outside the building until the last child in line entered for the first day. Before the students filed into the school, however, principal Vanessa Boyd led them in the singing of the school song, and even offered words of reassurance to the lingering parents.
“They are safe; they are in great hands. We are going to take amazing care of them,” Boyd said. “Some of them have no idea where they are going; teachers are ready to take them where they are going. No one is going to be lost or confused. We have a perfect, well-oiled machine ready to go inside.”
Some of the students who had been at the school before and were familiar with its halls and rooms jumped and skipped as they approached the building Tuesday morning.
One of them was Wayne Hammersterom II, of Butler, who was going into first grade at the school.
“He went to kindergarten at Broad Street; he loves coming here,” said his father, Wayne Hammersterom.
Serenity Huselton was going into second grade at Broad Street Elementary, and smiled wide for a photo taken by her mom, Corrie Hodak, before entering the school Tuesday. Hodak laughed when Serenity told her what she was most excited for this school year.
“My teacher and lunch are the best,” Serenity said.
