By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Carrying new bulging backpacks, and wearing their favorite clothes, anxious Bowling Green City School students showed up for their first day of school Wednesday morning.
They were met by a friendly gauntlet of school, city and police officials as they entered their school buildings.
“That’s a pretty outfit you have on today,” said the school district’s athletic director Dirk Conner to a girl entering Conneaut Elementary School.
“That’s a great haircut,” Conner said to a boy with a closely cropped head of hair.
“I like your unicorn shirt. That’s cool,” he said to another student.
Some students were hesitant at first, but then broke out in smiles and high-fives for the line of school and city officials. Some groups of children, gathered to hug Superintendent Francis Scruci, and one student jumped up into his arms.
“How was your summer,” Scruci asked the grinning student.
Some children posed for their proud parents, wanting last minute photos on the steps of the school. And a few had some tears of nervousness quickly wiped away by their reassuring parents.
The first day of school is a big day for kids – and the school district wanted the students to know that the adults understand the magnitude of the day.
“We want to make sure kids know we’re invested,” Superintendent Francis Scruci said in between high-fives with arriving students. “It’s a great way to welcome kids back.”
The parents noticed, too.
“It’s like an all-star greeting team,” one parent said as she dropped off her student.
School and city officials were posted outside all the schools to welcome the students on their first day back.
Bowling Green City Councilman Bruce Jeffers stood outside Conneaut Elementary, greeting students.
“It’s the first year in a long time for me to not be one of the teachers,” said Jeffers, who recently retired from Otsego School District. It was bittersweet, he said, to be part of the welcome team Wednesday morning.
Bowling Green Police Major Justin White was greeting several students by name, since he knows some of the students through his children who attend Conneaut.
White not only wanted to help the students celebrate the first day back, but he also wanted the children to see a police officer being part of a positive community event.
Assistant Municipal Administrator Joe Fawcett complimented one little boy decked out in a bowtie for the occasion.
“Welcome back buddy, good luck,” Fawcett said as he high-fived another student.
Conner noted the different reaction of the elementary students from the middle school and high school age kids.
“It’s just a change of pace from the high school,” where many of the students ducked their heads when greeted by school and city officials Wednesday morning.
“These kids light up,” Conner said of the elementary students. “It’s a fun way to start the day.”
The welcome crews started last year at every school.
“It made everybody feel good,” said Melanie Garbig, executive director of pupil services for BG City Schools. “I hope we continue the tradition.”
