DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — Students from Steelton-Highspire School District started their first day of school today in a big way as community leaders, first responders and local law enforcement welcomed students back to the classrooms.
"It’s really fun to see kids hopping out of their car with those looks on their faces, some of them excited, some of them kind of [trepidations] about what’s going to happen. But they’re all here to have a lot of fun and learn a lot and have a safe day," said Chief of Swatara Township Police, Tom Stauffer.
According to the school district's superintendent, Dr. Mick Iskric, this is something they do every year to celebrate the kids and to let them know they have a big support system around them.
“Steelton-Highspire, we always rally around each other, and roller pride is like nothing you’ve ever seen before," Iskric said.
Mayor of Steelton, Ciera Dent, dropped off her son for his first day of kindergarten at Steelton-Highspire Elementary School.
“We have to make sure that they are motivated and inspired and sometimes kids get nervous, especially with their first year…. and they have to know that there’s people behind them, a village behind them, so his village showed up and we are just super excited,” Dent said.
Some of the students arrived on campus riding in one of the district's new electric school buses.
Dr. Iskric shared Steelton-Highspire is the first district in Pennsylvania to have a 100% electric bus fleet. This now coincides with the schools' solar-powered energy.
And with it being a new school year, there are some other changes being implemented within the district.
All K-12 students within the district are starting school at 8am, with the hope of improving attendance and allowing kids to get a little more sleep.
There will also be increased law enforcement presence during the first week of school in response to the new combined start times and ensuring the safety of all students. K-12 students will be rotating between in-person and remote learning for the first few days of classes.