FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

By LYNETTE SOWELL

On Tuesday morning, thousands of students and their parents converged on campuses throughout the city as the 2015-2016 school year kicked off. At Fairview-Jewell Elementary, its 353 students arrived with a mixture of happy faces and perhaps a few butterflies in the stomach about the upcoming year. Returning students greeted each other while the new ones, especially kindergarten students, took in their new surroundings. Mason Castell, a fourth grader, started his second year at the campus, and his mother and grandmother lingered with him at breakfast. “He is excited to get out of the house, to see his friends, and see the girls,” said Vivian Castell, Mason’s mom. Mason, wearing his new Darth Vader shirt and carrying his Star Wars backpack, was especially happy to hear the school is now dubbed the Fairview-Jewell Jedis. Jeis Valentine, in kindergarten, said he was looking forward most to playing outside while at his new school. “Something new” is a theme throughout the district this year, with the Fairview-Jewell and other schools getting new parking lots, the S.C. Lee Junior High received a much-needed HVAC system replacement, which took most of the summer to complete. Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy, the prekindergarten campus, officially began using their new bus loop. Also, the oft-used Lea Ledger Auditorium received a facelift with new carpet, paint and varnish, and more. In the 2015-2016 school year, teachers and students will also see new computers in their classrooms. Back in March, the CCISD board of trustees approved the purchase of new computers for all teachers in the district, with a grand total of 561 desktop computers and 118 laptops purchased. Additionally, CCISD has 450 iPad Minis for prekindergarten students, first and second graders, and for 15 third grade classrooms. The additional iPad Minis for the remaining third grade classrooms and all fourth grade classrooms will be purchased early this school year. At campuses throughout the district, the Copperas Cove Fire Department had trucks and personnel present, to remind drivers of taking it slow through school zones. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Copperas Cove Police Department issued 49 citations for speeding in school zones.