A new era began for the Newport Special School District as 882 Pre-K through sixth grade students moved into the new Newport Elementary School last Thursday and according to Principal Allen Blair, "it wasn't too bad."
"We had some issues with parents, buses, not a whole lot of room but those are things that are out of our control until we get our new road," he told the Newport School Board members Thursday evening.
Blair noted that getting children off and on buses was the largest concern the first day, but that it too would get better over time.
"We didn't get everyone to class until about 8:45 a.m. with little ones not wanting to leave parents and registering new kids and then this afternoon we had some kids get on the wrong buses even after we put them on the right ones," he explained, "but that is something we will get worked out."
Blair told the board members that he had 102 students show up the first day for preschool which does not count in the school's actual student count while 157 were present in kindergarten. First grade had 109 students, second grade had 105, third grade had 115, fourth grade had 104, fifth grade had 102 and sixth grade had 88.
The board also heard from Newport junior high principal Mike Nichols who advised that he was "very impressed by what I saw on the first day."
"We have some good students who want to learn and want to do well," he said, "we also have a very good staff who wants to help these kids succeed. It went about as well as can be expected."
Nichols reported that the junior high had 218 students the first day of school.
New High School Principal Becky Watkins advised the board members that her first day went "pretty well."
"I spent a lot time between classes in the halls picking up trash (from the Breakfast on the Go) and I will address that tomorrow with the students," she explained.
"For the most part the students were in uniform and the 45-minute class periods went smoothly. The new split lunch schedule worked wonderfully. It was a completely different atmosphere in the cafeteria this year."
Watkins reported there were 406 high school students on the first day of class.
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A new era began for the Newport Special School District as 882 Pre-K through sixth grade students moved into the new Newport Elementary School last Thursday and according to Principal Allen Blair, "it wasn't too bad."
"We had some issues with parents, buses, not a whole lot of room but those are things that are out of our control until we get our new road," he told the Newport School Board members Thursday evening.
Blair noted that getting children off and on buses was the largest concern the first day, but that it too would get better over time.
"We didn't get everyone to class until about 8:45 a.m. with little ones not wanting to leave parents and registering new kids and then this afternoon we had some kids get on the wrong buses even after we put them on the right ones," he explained, "but that is something we will get worked out."
Blair told the board members that he had 102 students show up the first day for preschool which does not count in the school's actual student count while 157 were present in kindergarten. First grade had 109 students, second grade had 105, third grade had 115, fourth grade had 104, fifth grade had 102 and sixth grade had 88.
The board also heard from Newport junior high principal Mike Nichols who advised that he was "very impressed by what I saw on the first day."
"We have some good students who want to learn and want to do well," he said, "we also have a very good staff who wants to help these kids succeed. It went about as well as can be expected."
Nichols reported that the junior high had 218 students the first day of school.
New High School Principal Becky Watkins advised the board members that her first day went "pretty well."
"I spent a lot time between classes in the halls picking up trash (from the Breakfast on the Go) and I will address that tomorrow with the students," she explained.
"For the most part the students were in uniform and the 45-minute class periods went smoothly. The new split lunch schedule worked wonderfully. It was a completely different atmosphere in the cafeteria this year."
Watkins reported there were 406 high school students on the first day of class.
