In Groton, 4,200 students head back to school
Groton — Once Sarah Hester got over the first day jitters, she was fine.
She just had to dry her tears after dropping off her son, first-grader Jackson, 6, at breakfast on the first day of school at Mary Morrisson Elementary School.
"He was looking around just so scared, and I'm like, 'Buddy, I'll be checking on you,'" she said.
Hester works as a paraprofessional in kindergarten at the school and promised to check on him.
"I told him if he's good today and tomorrow, we'll take him fishing Saturday," Hester said.
In one of the first-grade classrooms, Jackson wore a yellow shirt and light blue bow tie with fish on it. He'd spent the summer fishing.
"I was a little nervous in the beginning, because it was just a new class and I was just scared," he said.
But then he saw friends from kindergarten and felt better, he said.
About 4,200 students in Groton went back to school Thursday, the first day of school for students in grades 1 through 12.
Another 400 children in preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten go back to school Tuesday.
"It is just going remarkably well," said Superintendent Michael Graner, who'd visited four of the district's 10 schools by 10:30 a.m.
"The students have come back, and they are obviously ready for school (with) everything from school supplies and new school clothes ... I'm just seeing great energy and enthusiasm," he said. "I think it was a long summer, and frankly, I think people are happy to be back."
Mary Morrisson Assistant Principal Christina Post greeted children as they stepped off the school bus. "Do I get a hug or a fist pump?" she asked one boy, who looked tentative. "Oh, I was so hoping for a hug. ... Girl, you are so fancy. And Gabby, you look stunning! I love your haircut!"
The school saw about 352 students Thursday morning, but that was a moving target, with new families arriving as late as Wednesday.
"From what I can tell, everything went smoothly," Mary Morrisson Principal Monica Franzone said. "I'm always grateful when things go as they should."
Kelly Baty brought two of her children, Nicholas Snider, 7, and Savannah Snider, 6, to the school for the first time after moving from North Carolina.
"They did great," said Baty, who carried her 8-month-old son in a baby carrier.
As for Hester and Jackson, it was just different this year, because she had to bring him early so she could work, and he's not in kindergarten anymore.
"I told him, you're a big kid now," Hester said. "This is game on."
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