“This is the best day of the year!” announced North Bend Elementary School principal Jim Frazier on a cloudy morning, Sept. 3. He had a big coffee mug and an even bigger smile for student and parents as they came to the front door.
The driveway hummed with cars stopping long enough for kids to grab their backpacks and parents to get one last hug and photo, and with buses delivering hundreds of anxious students. About half the bus riders leaped from the last bus step and hit the ground running toward the playground.
Madeleine Fowler had to stop for a picture for her mom, Angela, waiting as the bus delivered her, then she tore off to the playground, too.
“I just wanted to get a picture of her getting off the bus,” Fowler said. “Then I asked her if she wanted me to walk her in and she said ‘no.'”
Britney and Bill Bjorke walk their future Kindergartener Gwyneth, up to North Bend Elementary School, where their son Grant is starting his first day of second grade. Gwyneth started Kindergarten on Monday, Sept. 8.
Eager students jump off the bus for the first day of school at North Bend Elementary.
Angela Fowler waves as her daughter, Madeleine’s bus pulls up outside the school.
Megan Wood, far right, started third grade with flowers and a photo with her family, Melissa Brown, brother Campbell, and dad, Chris Wood.
The McCallister family walks to school, with the help of a crossing guard. Andrew starts Kindergarten Monday, Mom and Katie are just along for the walk, and Ashley starts third grade.
Just off the bus, August Ristow runs to meet some friends before class.
