BEDFORD - Kids returned to the classroom Tuesday, Aug. 28, entering school buildings in a gentle rain but exiting under perfect sunshine.

Luz Futrell came to pick up her daughter, Sophia, after her first day in the third grade at Peter Woodbury Elementary.

“She woke up at 4:30 this morning anxious to be there,” Futrell said. “We left the house at 7:20.”
Futrell said it wasn’t nervousness, but excitement that her daughter was feeling on the first day of school.

“She loves school,” Luz said of her daughter. “She’s so into science, and the teacher that she’s going to have is more into science, so she’s happy about it.”

Sophia Futrell, 8, expressed her concern for a new addition to the school – one of her classmates.
“Mom, there’s this new kid in my classroom and he’s from Florida,” she said. “And he came here so he could have better things, because over there he couldn’t get a backpack with meals in it.”

Asked how the first day of school went, the third-grader said, “Mmm, good. Yeah great. We brought some books, and also I wrote this story about when I did archery.”

Sophia confirmed what her mom said about science being her favorite subject.
“We’re gonna learn about bats,” she said, looking forward to a good 2012-13 academic year.

Like most schools in the region, Bedford’s opened prior to Labor Day. Statewide, 55 districts opened Aug. 28, with a handful to open following the Labor Day holiday.

After bidding goodbye to each of the kids as they boarded their school bus, Ken Williams, the principal at Peter Woodbury, said the day was as smooth as could be.

“We visited all the classrooms and everybody was doing well,” he said. “I think the kids are ready to come back.”
The day before the first day of school, a meet-and-greet at Woodbury Elementary allowed the kids to come in with their parents and meet their teachers. Williams said this helps ease the transition.

The biggest transition, however, is getting kids used to what buses they are supposed to board, he said. After a few weeks, though, the kids usually have it down.

There’s also the scholastic transition.

“As far as academics, right now we’re going into summer review,” Williams said. “And within two to three weeks all of the new things are going to start in their grade levels. And then in October, we start with (NECAP) testing for grades three and four.”

Williams said the parents of kids having a hard time with the transition should call the school’s guidance councilors, as well as the classroom teachers.

Sarah LaCroix’s son, Aiden, is entering fourth grade, and her daughter, Madeline, is starting her first year in elementary school. She said it was easier for the fourth-grader.

“She was up at the crack of dawn, before alarms went off,” LaCroix said. “I think it was a mix of nervous and excitement, and it’s his fourth grade so he knows what’s coming. He was a little sore to get ready this morning, but still excited.”

LaCroix said there are always a lot of preparations going back to school.

“You have to get all the school supplies back together, and all the school clothes, and obviously there’s a good amount of paperwork to be filled out, and (then) the mental preparation of getting them excited about it.”

“I liked it,” said Aiden LaCroix. “We pretty much set up the classroom and our desks. I love Mrs. Wyand.”

First grader Sarah LaCroix was happy to see some of her old friends, and is looking forward to a good year with Mrs. Ayers.

“Everybody’s super nice, very welcoming,” said Mrs. LaCroix, with a smile and proud eyes. “She’s definitely looking forward to being here with her big brother.”