Melissa Jenco, TribLocal reporter
Hundreds of staff cuts in Elgin-based School District U-46 last spring made for a tough end to the year.
Seeing students back at school Wednesday was a breath of fresh air, said Kimball Middle School Principal Alan Tamburrino.
This is refreshing because this is what its all about, he said. Positive energy and excitement.
Classes began Wednesday for about 41,000 students in U-46.
Highland Elementary School Principal Steve Johnson used to say he wanted the first day of school to be the best. But not wanting people to think the year would go downhill from there, he changed his motto.
We just want the first day to be the first of many great days, he told Highland parents Wednesday.
At Highland, the day began with a flag-raising ceremony and recitation of the Highland High Five, in which students promise to be safe, be respectful, be responsible, be caring, be here and ready.
Many students said they were glad to be back.
I get to see my friends again, sixth-grader Rosa Juarez said.
We get to learn more stuff, said fourth-grader Noemi Solano.
Her classmate Isiaha Baker wasnt quite as enthusiastic.
I kind of dont like it because I cant play my favorite video game that I play every day, he said.
Parents walked their kids to their classrooms, then Johnson spoke to them about the new year, encouraging them to get involved and promising to carry out the schools mission to prepare every child for success in middle school and beyond.
The school nurse asked that parents do their part by making sure their children get enough rest and eat healthy meals, including breakfast.
At Kimball, students had slightly different reasons for wanting to be back at school.
Seventh-grader Isabella Carranza is looking forward to having more freedom in middle school while seventh-grader Paige Bryant said she is glad to get a break from her siblings.
Seventh-grader Mizael Barraza just enjoys school.
I need to study more for a better job, he said.
Parents also had a mix of feelings about the first day back. Some expressed concern about how staff cuts would affect their children.
It takes away from the one-on-one time because theres more kids in the class, said Candis Terry, parent of a Highland first-grader.
Highland parent Theresa Price said sending third-grade son Ethan back to school was a little sad.
It means hes getting older.
