The last students in our area to head back to school got a soggy start to the year.
Kids from Dade, Walker, Catoosa and Murray Counties started classes today.
Besides today's nasty weather, new hours and bigger class sizes are a few of the challenges this year.
It was organized Chaos at Chattanooga Valley Elementary.
Rachel Saunier, "My oldest child, first day of school."
And the weather didn't help parents like kindergarten mom Rachel Saunier.
Austin Cope, "On days when we get rain it can be a little hectic."
But the rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm for students returning to classes after an extra-long summer break.
Heather Culverson, Principal Chattanooga Valley Elementary School, "They bound through the door and were anxious to get to their rooms. Our school year is reduced by some number of days. We've added time to the school day to make up that instructional time that we are starting later this year."
Now teachers will have a longer school day..around half an hour longer.
Cope, "It's actually a little bit nicer on us, lesson plan wise, but it's a little bit harder on the kids because if they are absent they're missing just that much more material in the day."
Along with the new hours in Walker Schools...balancing the budget made for some tough decisions in Walker and Catoosa counties...like larger class sizes.
But from beginning...
Culverson, "We have had a wonderful start to our first day of school."
To end...
Cope, "Dismissal's the second most hectic part of the day after kindergarten class."
Teachers and Parents at Chattanooga Valley give Day One an A.
Saunier, "We've been a little teary eyed but we made it through the day so we're anxious to see how she enjoyed it."
And from the looks of things...the kids did too.
