Gallery: School back in session for Slippery Rock and 3 other districts in Butler County

August 21, 2024 Last Updated: August 21, 2024 08:28 PM Education

Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Knoch, Freeport and Allegheny-Clarion Valley students also return to class

Students donned new sneakers, backpacks and smiles as they boarded bright yellow buses Wednesday, Aug. 21, funneling into the Slippery Rock Area Middle School for their first day of school.

Across Butler County, Knoch, Freeport and Allegheny-Clarion Valley students also started the new school year.

Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Slippery Rock Area Middle School students exit their school buses and enter the school on their first day back to school on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Megan Weston of Jefferson Township said the start of the school year means all three of her children will now be attending classes in the same building at Knoch Middle School.

Her 13-year-old son, TJ, just started seventh grade. His twin sisters, Scarlett and Savannah, 11, just made the transition to middle school.

While Weston said TJ — an avid Boy Scout — would have liked to enjoy an extended summer, her daughters Scarlett and Savannah, who attended Cheer Camp this summer, were so excited they planned to wake up before dawn at 4:30 a.m.

“I told them no,” Weston said. “That’s too early.”

Beneath the excitement of going to a bigger school with an earlier dismissal, using lockers for the first time and meeting old friends, Weston said, there were some nerves.

All three packed their bags — and their own lunches — Tuesday night in anticipation of the first day of school.

Wednesday morning, they waited for the school bus, which typically picks them up a few minutes before 7 a.m.

Thursday marks the first day of school for three other Butler County school districts: Mars Area School District, Moniteau School District and Seneca Valley School District.

Butler Area School District starts up the school year next Wednesday, Aug. 28, while Karns City Area School District is the last public school district across the county to return to session with classes starting directly after Labor Day on Sept. 3.

View and purchase photos from the first day of school by visiting photos.butlereagle.com.