By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Nine-year-old Christian Marte usually isn’t awake at 7 a.m., but on Tuesday, he made an exception.
It was the first day of school, after all.
“He was very excited,” said his father, Jose Marte of Jefferson. “He beat the alarm clock, but I don’t think it will happen again.”
Marte stood outside Jefferson Elementary School with several other parents and grandparents waiting hand-in-hand with their children, most of whom were carrying new backpacks adorned with Disney characters and comic book heroes.
Kristen Slawson said her two children, Madyson, 11, and Laken, 7, had “mixed emotions” about returning to school.
Madyson perked up when a friend hollered “hello” from across the school yard.
Christian, Madyson and Laken were among thousands of area students who returned to school Tuesday. The only schools already in session were Ss. John and Paul Schools, which started back Aug. 19, and Pymatuning Valley, which opened Monday.
Tuesday in Jefferson Area Local Schools District went “fantastic,” Superintendent Doug Hladek said.
“You can’t imagine how great it is in Jefferson, starting with the new Falcon Pride Stadium,” he said. “Kick-off is at 7 p.m. Friday.”
Hladek could hardly contain his excitement as he described the first day of school at Jefferson and Rock Creek elementary schools, as well as at the high school and junior high.
“Everyone is anxious for the new high school-junior high school to open,” he said. “We anticipate Oct. 20 as the day. I hope the contractor doesn’t make a fibber out of me.”
The Conneaut Area City Schools district rolled out a revamped bus schedule on its first day Tuesday, and the debut went reasonably well, said Superintendent Kent Houston. “We’re ironing out some busing issues,” he said.
The district’s half-mile walking points need some adjustment, and drivers are working with the routing director, Houston said. “Everything else is running smooth,” he said.
On hand to greet Conneaut High School students was Dawn Zappitelli, the building’s new principal, the third principal there in as many years. She served as the district’s athletic administrator last year.
“We spend so much time getting ready for this day,” Zappitelli said. “It’s exciting to see the kids coming through the door.”
In Orwell, Grand Valley Local Schools Superintendent Bill Nye said it was a pretty good day.
New this year is the district is trying to “go green” by returning the real, washable lunch trays, in place of disposable trays, he said.
Mother Nature cooperated, too.
“It’s a pretty nice day,” he said. “Not too hot, not too cold.”
Geneva Local Schools Superintendent Mary Zappitelli said Geneva had a smooth opening.
“I toured the district and everything seemed to be in good shape,” she said.
Happy Hearts School in Kingsville also started Tuesday.
“Everything is running smoothly,” said Peggy Massi, the superintendent’s secretary.
