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Cool air and warm welcomes mark the first day of school in Mt. Pleasant
Staff and students show their excitement for the new year at Harlan Elementary
AnnaMarie Kruse
Aug. 25, 2025 12:31 pm
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MT. PLEASANT — The first day of school carried the buzz of new beginnings across Henry County on Monday, where cool morning air and bright smiles welcomed students back to classrooms. For many, the return marked a fresh chapter in learning, and for some, a milestone moment in their school careers.
The Mt. Pleasant Community School District opened its doors Aug. 25, greeting students from preschool to high school. At Harlan Elementary, the district’s preschool and kindergarten attendance center, young learners stepped off buses into the arms of an eager staff ready to guide them through their first day.
“Welcome to kindergarten!” associate Becky Grooms said as she greeted each student. “It’s going to be a great day!”
Grooms, now in her second year at Harlan, said she looks forward to the ritual of meeting students each morning, a practice that begins with helping them off the bus. Sometimes, she admitted, the district’s youngest riders accidentally miss their stop during the first week, but the transportation team works quickly to get them back on track.
“This is a good place to be,” Grooms said, dressed in bright colors as she welcomed children. “A lot of fun happens here. It’s going to be a great year! It’s always exciting to see who is going to come through the door and the good things that are going to happen. We haven’t had hardly any tears.”
The excitement stretched beyond Harlan’s doors. High school athletes made their presence felt, continuing a tradition of visiting younger schools on the first day.
Sophomore Isaiah Lange stood alongside Grooms Monday, holding the door and offering encouragement to wide-eyed kindergartners. Next to him, junior Tate Dorothy made the day extra special for a family member.
“I came out for my cousin, it’s his first day of kindergarten,” Dorothy said. “He wasn’t really excited for school, poor guy, but he was excited to see me.”
Dorothy said the tradition began with encouragement from Head Football Coach John Bowlin, but it has grown into a highlight for the players, including Lange.
“It’s cool to see the younger generations,” Lange said.
Both Lange and Dorothy say they look forward to making these connections each year and look forward to continuing the tradition in years to come.
The sense of continuity and care carried through the halls. Superintendent John Henriksen visited Harlan Elementary, stopping by classrooms and checking in on students. Henriksen said he tries to stop by each school in the district to welcome them on the first day.
This will be the last year he will do so in the capacity as superintendent, though, as he plans to retire at the end of the school year.
“What am I looking forward to the school year?” Henriksen said with a smile. “Just a fantastic school year. I’m just looking forward to seeing the progress of the students. It’s going to be a great year.”
The superintendent’s optimism reflected the tone of the morning, where children arrived both excited and nervous. Teachers and staff worked to ease jitters with encouragement and warmth.
For the youngest students at Harlan Elementary, Monday represented the first step of a long educational journey. For football players like Lange and Dorothy, it held nostalgia and anticipation for the future. For Henriksen, it was the beginning of a farewell tour. And for staff like Grooms, it was another chance to help children feel that school is not just a building, but a place to belong.
“Every day is different, but every day is good,” Grooms said. “That’s what makes this a special place.”
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com