Old River Elementary School students were greeted with messages of encouragement as they walked to class on the first day of school, with staff members holding signs that read, “You are loved.” and “Believe in Yourself,”
Stacy Beeney, the school nurse at Old River, said she was excited for the start of the school year.
“I hope that everybody enjoys themselves and just has a very memorable moment,” Beeney said. “We have a lot of different things happening.”
Beeney, who is in her fourth year at the school, said she loves the first day of school and the sense of community it brings.
“I see a lot of smiling faces, so I love that,” she said. “I see all the staff out here welcoming these students and calling them by name. And it’s just such a community family feeling that we have here. And then, like I said, most of all, I just love seeing the smiling kids’ faces walking in.”
Beeney said she enjoys her role at Old River and the school’s atmosphere.
“I love the family atmosphere like I was referencing,” she said. “And then just we’re such a community in helping develop these growing minds.”
She said teachers planned special activities for students in their classrooms as the school year began.
“The teachers have special things planned in each class,” Beeney said. “But we’re just here to support those students and welcome them and give them a friendly face to see.”