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School Bells Call Students in Bellevue, Millard

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

Everything is new at Millard's Reeder Elementary School.

The books. The supplies. Even the school itself.

Monday morning, the students and the school year joined that list.

The 2005-06 school year got under way in the metro area with the ring of school bells in Millard and Bellevue Public Schools and at the private Concordia Junior-Senior High. In the next two weeks, school districts will stagger their return to classes.

At Reeder Elementary, 192nd and Chandler Streets, all the normal back-to-school emotions -- jitters and excitement, sadness and joy - - were on display. Outside the building, scores of parents gathered to see their kids off and take in the big moment.

But the regular first-day bustle also combined with everyone learning the routines of a new school, Millard's first in Sarpy County.

Before sending out her staff to greet and organize the crowd, Principal Suzanne Hinman thanked her teachers for the countless hours they put in to get the school ready.

"I just can't tell you how much I appreciate that," she said. "OK. Let's go. First day!"

In Bellevue, Monday was the first day for kindergarten through ninth-grade students and sophomores, juniors and seniors who are new to the district.

Bellevue West High is new to a number of students who have transferred from schools around the globe. Across the district, more than 40 percent of students have parents who work at Offutt Air Force Base.

For years, those new students just walked through their schedules on the first day.

Then Bellevue West started a welcome program where the new students gather with a group of mentors -- many of whom transferred to Bellevue in previous years -- and get an "inside scoop," said Principal Kevin Rohlfs.

As the group met, a map in the back of the room showed the diversity of the new students. Push pins marked Italy, Turkey, the East Coast and Texas -- the students' last homes.

Emily Clark, Laura Brazeal, other mentors and staff helped introduce about 35 new students to the dress code, grade point averages, rules and activities. They all participated in a "get to know you'' bingo game.

Stephanie Buhler, 16, was excited when she learned that her grades for advanced classes are weighted at Bellevue, a difference from her former school in Grand Forks, N.D. This move is her seventh and so fresh that the family is living in a hotel.

At Reeder Elementary, Principal Hinman said the staff is excited to open a new school.

But with that, Hinman said, comes the challenge of pulling together a new school community, with families from 13 neighborhoods. Many of those families are new to their homes or the area, coming from as far away as Nepal and Australia, Hinman said.

Throughout the crowd, parents primped their children and documented the first day on film and video.

As the kindergartners gathered, mother Melanie Verkler shared tears with her daughter, Cailyn, as she prepared to attend her first- ever day of school.

At kindergarten roundup, her daughter was pushing her away, Melanie Verkler said as she stood with husband Brent and their other daughter, 2-year-old Presley. But Monday, Melanie said, Cailyn realized she wouldn't be with her mother all day.

"I hope she's comfortable," Brent Verkler said.

Said Melanie Verkler, wiping away tears, "She's got a good teacher."

Source: Omaha World - Herald

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