Schools

Backpacks and Happy Faces - It's the First Day of School

Reston - and all of FCPS - return to class.

Bus wheels rolled. Kindergarten parents cried. Bells rang.

For more than 175,000 Fairfax County Public School students, Tuesday was the first day of school.

The typical first-day jitters were all around, from new students to new teachers. For veterans, the routine was, well, routine. Terraset Elementary second-grade teacher Margie Henry welcomed her class to a a new year - her 35th as a teacher - while right next door, former Terraset parent Suzanne White started her new career as a first-grade teacher.

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At principal Bruce Butler welcomed 2,100 students from 91 countries.

"We speak more than 59 languages here at South Lakes," said Butler. He also welcomed 33 new teachers to the South Lakes family.

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"Who we bring in to teach is absolutely critical to the mission here," said Butler, who pointed out the highly qualified science teachers who are coming to South Lakes from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, among other schools.

Over at students got a look at their school, which will be undergoing renovations this year. Nonetheless, a fifth grader said the best part of the new year is "getting to see my friends."

The best part of the first day for a Lake Anne parent? "Getting here on time."


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