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Goodbye, lazy days Houston County, Westfield students return to classroom for 1994-'95 year ' <3 r :||f .r^ Travis Colburn, a third grade student at Westfield Schools, works on an arithmetic problem during his first day of school Wednesday. Travis is the son of Mary and Chuck Colburn of Montezuma. ■■nt Amanda Woodard, a Kindergarten student at Perry Elementary, Is amused at her teacher during her official "first day on the job". Amanda Is the daughter of Norman and Christy Woodard. Times-Joumal back-to-school photos by Jimmy Simpson * .* e ■:d BL. I FH, t mmu i 1 kmm v Westfield Schools' student Trisha Ramanlal proves that school is not all work and no play while finishing up an Ice cream treat on the playground Friday. Trisha is the daughter of Ramesh and Jayshree Ramanlal of Perry. 1 Officials say opening day 'pleasurable' By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer Houston County students said goodbye to summer, and hello to classrooms when returning for the first day of school last week. Wesfield Schools opened the doors to 465 students when bells rang last Wednesday. Houston County schools reported more than 17,000 attendees walked through more than 25 locations county-wide on Friday. Locally, administrators reported there were no problems from start to finish. "We may not be the best school system in the nation, but we're certainly one of the best,” Houston County School Supt. Tony Hinnant stated prior to students' first day back in the classroom. Hinnant reported that an estimated 13,000 students will be transported throughout the school year on a fleet consisting of more than 120 buses county-wide. "I told the principals (in the Houston County System) that the most important day of the year was Friday," Hinnant said. "Teachers in the most important profession there i 5...," Hinnant said, of the education field. "Their challenges are many, but their rewards are also many..." "I hope that as teachers start the new year they realize that there is nothing like taking a person and helping mold them into a respected person of society. "None of us (in society) can put a price tag on the value of what (teachers) do, and the Board of Education can't pay (teachers) enough for what they do in this county." Tucker Elementary "The first day was great, a very smooth opening day," said Principal Paul Hartman, who reported 508 students attended first day classes. "We had an open house on Thursday night, and that cut down on a lot of confusion; it made things a lot more organized on opening day," he said. "The parents and kids were able to meet teachers, and that appeared to have cut down on frustration normally experienced." Kings Chapel "Everything went really well," said Principal Dave Crockett. "I was really pleased with our opening day turnout (448 kids)." "We had our staff prepared, and they were not only ready, but truly exceptional." Perry Elementary "Students were truly great,” Principal Patsy Hutto said. "We had a great beginning." Hutto said the 366 students who made their way through the front doors were well disciplined on the day. Mornlngslde Elementary "I was especially pleased," said Principal Van Rowell. "The students seemed to be real excited and anxious to get back (to school)." Rowell said one of the biggest improvements was allowing all buses to arrive at the school at the same time. "It was wonderful. All of the bus students were gone by 3:15," Rowell said. Perry Middle School "Everything went fine," said Principal Bobby Pennington, who reported 860 students made their way to classes at the middle school. "One of the best things we experienced was the new bus schedule. We were able to call 12- 14 buses at once instead of having to work with the staggered system (that the school used last year). "I'd like to bragg on that decision (to bring all buses in at once). It helps students, parents and teachers." Perry High School "We had a wonderful day," Principal Phil Smith reported. "It was very quiet." Smith said that, as usual, there were some new students who arrived the first day among the 899- member student body, but administrators were prepared. "We had worked diligently all summer long to have schedules correct when the students arrived, and didn't have any real problems. "We wanted to make sure the first day was just like any other day..." * gfijl \ |A * 4 V" ' Jj ||fd (p* Kindergarten student David Arnold listens to advice given by Mrs. Phyllis Peavey during art Instruction at Tucker Elementary. David joined hundreds of other students returning to Houston County Schools for the first time Friday morning. David Is the son of Chris and Mauri Arnold. , - \ H .. per I H \ k. • * tj Jessica Wright (left), Danielle Nelson (center) and Brittany Clack plan their meal for other Kindergarten students at Mornlngslde Elementary School. Jessica is the daughter of Terry and Benita Wright, Danielle the daughter of Mendola and Ethel Nelson, and Brittany the daughter of Sherman and Tammy Clack. 'i* i, ■ - - ■ : : k|HhS 5 ' %-.-. * . jjffe, :< ■■ ■ - j ;,.:y-'; : *S- & - JBp ?«j39HS^HH* wjr JHk t fcj|^^*W ->• * 1 -Hi l */ v J “ I .. . .js 4% fe^MHHni; Ashley Colvin (left) and Cantrell Eubanks demonstrate the art of eating lunchroom sandwiches during a lunch break for kindergarten students at Kings Chapel Elementary School. Ashley Is the daughter of Michael and Diane Colvin. Cantrell is ; the son of Wendy Askew. September Lleberman, a computer clerk at Mornlngslde Elementary School, says "an apple a day definitely doesn't always keep school work away...” Lleberman Is also an education student at Mercer University located In Macon. Wednesday, August 24, 1994, Houston Times -Journal SslpjspS : " O •' £Z V ? *'jSSaSßjj Vn BMP % - :i'v y- •** * M . Fv "^I—IMLi Page 9A