Excitement fills classrooms

MT. PLEASANT — Many Henry County schools, new teachers and administrators welcomed students back to school Tuesday.

“The Mt. Pleasant Middle School had a wonderful first day,” new Middle School Principal Mark Adams said. “We started the day with class assemblies where we introduced some new faces (like both administrators) and talked about Panther PRIDE.”

Adams is joined by new Associate Principal Sherri Orris for the 2022-23 school year along with five new teachers.

Paige Newman, Allyson Hento, and Danielle Norton are new special education teachers for Mt. Pleasant Middle School.

The other new staff faces include English teacher Evanica Brown and Family Consumer Sciences teacher Micaela Bryant.

“The biggest stressors for students were getting lockers opened and finding the right bus at the end of the day,” Adams said. “Overall, though, the day went very well and we had a great time meeting all the new students!”

Local elementary schools filled with the loud buzz of excited young students returning to the hallways and new staff making introductions, also.

“My favorite quote was when I overheard a student asking their neighbor what a ‘schwa’ was, to which the student replied very matter-of-factly, ‘The teacher just made it up!’” second grade Salem teacher Suzan Harrison said.

Much of the day was spent on fun activities, but in true teacher-fashion the students still had plenty to answer “what did you learn at school today?” when they got home.

“We worked on several team building activities, rules and routines,” Harrison said. “We even had time for reading and math. My students had a fabulous day back and did a great job listening and team building. I am excited to see what the rest of the year entails.”

Harrison was not alone in her team-building endeavors for the first day of school at Salem Elementary.

“In my classroom we worked on a lot of team building activities,” third grade teacher Allison Graesing said. “This included a ‘Get to Know your Classroom’ partner activity, Classmate BINGO, creating our Classroom Contract, discussing what it means to be a positive classmate, and talking about how each of us is unique.”

“I loved seeing the students interact with each other in a positive way and getting to know how they all solved problems,” Graesing said. “I can't wait for another fun year!”

With a whole school year ahead of them, the sentiments of excitement for the rest of the year rang true throughout the whole district.

“The best part of today was seeing the kids and getting the year started,” second grade Van Allen teacher Shelby Bride said. “I am most looking forward to what the year has in store for myself and my students and watching my students grow and learn.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com