While many kids are still enjoying the last few days of summer, students in Valley Center headed back to class Friday.
The doors opened today at 7:45 a.m. at Valley Center West Elementary School. As the students rolled off the buses and walked through the doors, they were greeted by teachers. The students then gathered in the lunchroom for orientation, the Pledge of Allegiance and to learn what was on the lunch menu.
The bells rang at 8:20 a.m. and the students went to see their new surroundings, meet their fellow classmates and teachers.
"When you've had two and half months off of school, you kind of have to remember what it's like to be in school. Everyone has worked so hard. The teachers have been up here working extremely hard to get the building ready." Said Pete Bastian, Principal at Valley Center West.
This will be the first year that Valley West will offer a full-day kindergarten, which means it will be their first time getting to go through the lunch line. The kindergarder's do not start until next week, Friday was orientation.
This new addition created an influx in kindergarten registration and prompted the district to hire two more kindergarten teachers. The school now has 10 kindergarten classes.
Mr. Bastin also told us that Valley Center West has enrolled nearly 110 new elementary students this year and a about 170 for the district.
Mr. Bastin said that he was excited about the first day back, "I can't sleep the night before. It's great and it's always fun. When those kids walk through those doors, that's what makes it all worth while."
Wichita students go back to school on August 15th.
