Washtenaw County students welcomed back to school as the new year gets under way
Haisley Elementary School principal Mary Anne Jaeger welcomes back her students by the bus stop on the first day of school this morning. Jaeger gets a hug from second-grader, Rajada Noblin, left, while fourth-grader DeSean Munson awaits his turn.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
The sun was shining almost as brightly as the smiles of students, teachers and parents at Northside Elementary School this morning as the school year officially got under way.
Children across Washtenaw County started a new year of studies today and got a warm welcome from teachers and staff.
Northside Principal Monica Harrold stood in the school's entrance area, giving students welcome back high fives and hugs. She said the first day of school is always a special day for everyone.
“It’s exciting. I coined a phrase called ‘first day jitters,’ because you don’t know what to expect but it’s really exciting,” she said. “The air is kind of pulsing with the kids coming back and everything. I can’t say I was ready for summer to be done, but I am excited to be back.
The parents walking their children into school, from kindergartners to veteran fifth graders, seemed almost as nervous as their children.
Phil Stuart dropped his son Dominic off for his first day in the second grade at Northside and said he was looking forward to seeing his son’s improvement during the coming year.
“I hope he improves his skills in reading and writing and math and has a lot of fun,” Stuart said.
Despite his dad’s assertion that he was excited and ready to go back, Dominic disagreed.
“I’m not excited,” he said with a smile. “I’m in summer mode.”
Besides its share of new students making their way into a classroom for the first time, Northside welcomed some new faces to its staff this year as well.
Harrold said there are two new teachers this year, including first-year teacher Michele Nixon, teaching a third/fourth grade split class. Harrold said it’s refreshing to have new teachers around the building.
“That’s kind of exciting to have some new faces, every now and then you need things to turn over and everything,” she said.
The Northside staff has been working on “mindset, expectations and relationships” during the summer, Harrold said and she expects that work to pay off in the coming months.
“I’ve said it as a principal and as a teacher, you have to work on relationships,” she said. “It’s so important to have a good relationship with the kids and their parents.”
Comments
ViSHa
Thu, Sep 9, 2010 : 1:39 p.m.
isn't this the second year mary anne jaeger has been in a photo for the first day of school (maybe more)? spread the love aa.com, lol.
eom
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
sbbuilder, I'm a bit confused by your post...what are you trying to say?
treetowncartel
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 3 p.m.
@ sbbuilder, I suggest looking back at the articles and accompanying comments over the past year that discuss school budgets. In those comments you will clearly see opinions from people who are not appreciative of the work performed by the public school employees. I never once assigned a percentage of individuals who take that view, but it is clear some of the posters here do. Thank you for taking my statement out of context, I truly appreciate that. Also, my thanks was directed to all of the employees, not just the teachers. I also wish to thank all of those people who volunteer their time helping out.
nasu
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.
Our morning bus was right on time, impressive we thought.. only to wait a staggering 40!!! minutes for the afternoon bus (elementary school students).
jns131
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 8:29 a.m.
I wonder how late the buses arrived at the school Tuesday morning? I heard it was chaotic and disorganized.
donderop
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 7:06 a.m.
I love this photo! Wish we could all be that enthusiastic!
J. Sorensen
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 5:25 a.m.
Wow! My mom taught at Haisley, and yeah, the Pink & Brown should make a comeback! However I'd be lying if I said I didn't know people who downplayed the difficulties of teachers, their "short" work year and how angry that made me. Even as a kid, watching my mom spend her evenings and weekends grading papers and making lesson plans, I had a great respect for her and all my teachers down the road. A truly wonderful profession. It makes me smile when I meet someone who tells me my mom taught them to read!
KathrynHahn
Wed, Sep 8, 2010 : 4:40 a.m.
Agreed! I grew up with the pink & brown and proudly under the watch of the amazing Louise Ritsema! Go Haisley!
Arboriginal
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 5:51 p.m.
If only Principal Jaeger would initiate a campaign to change Haisley's school colors back to the "historical" Pink & Brown! GO HAISLEY!
sbbuilder
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
treetowncartel: Apologize all you want. The rest of your short diatribe I characterize as drivel. I'm not sure why A2.com felt it warranted front page viewing. To be clear: very few people try to make the profession of teaching a 'thankless one'. Virtually no one takes 'pride' in that spurious endeavor. So, to link those two thoughts is petty and just asking for a response. Well, you got one. I'll say, teachers, continue to give the students a good education. Students, give the teachers the respect and attention they deserve.
shine16
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 4:14 p.m.
Thank you treetowncartel! That means a lot!
treetowncartel
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 11:16 a.m.
A big thank you to all of you involved in the school system and the delivery of education to our most cherished natural resource, the children of this country. I also appologize in advance for all the criticism you will receive in person, and in print, from the Monday morning armchair quarterbacks who take pride in trying to make your profession a thankless one.