On Monday, the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District will begin its 2017-2018 school year.
Teachers have spent all of last week preparing, and new teacher orientation was held July 31. All of the district’s faculty and staff participated in a convocation on Aug. 2., hearing from local community and district leaders, as well as a motivational speaker.
Sudduth Elementary Principal Elizabeth Mosley offered her advice for the first day.
“Get a good night’s sleep and get there in time so you don’t feel rushed,” Mosley said. “Sometimes having to rush upsets the kids.”
Mosley said Sudduth was anticipating a school population of close to 800 students for the coming year, and that teachers and administrators were working hard to be ready for the first day.
“It’s a busy time,” Mosley said.
Overstreet Elementary Principal Timothy Bourne also spoke to the amount of work faculty put in to prepare for the first day.
“Some of the teachers have been here just about all summer, and definitely within the past week having professional development with teachers, teaching and learning, laying out the expectations and the vision for this upcoming school year,” Bourne said.
Borne advised that parents make sure students arrive at the school prepared and encouraged families to attend their child’s school’s open house.
“We are going to have an excellent school year,” Bourne said. “We are setting our goals. We’re expecting excellence every single day."
Bourne said Overstreet would begin its school year with more than 360 students.
The school day begins at 7:40 a.m. for Sudduth, West and Henderson Ward Stewart Elementaries, 7:45 a.m. for Overstreet Elementary and 8:30 a.m. for Armstrong Middle School and Starkville High School.