Today is the day. The first day of school for those attending Mount Airy City Schools and Surry County Schools.
For some, it is the first time they’ve ever entered the halls of a school building to attend classes, and for others, it’s the first day of the last year they’ll be attending a public school. But for the majority of those riding the bus, being dropped off or driving themselves to classes, they fall somewhere in between the beginning and the end of public school life.
This is a time for fresh starts. For the students who maybe haven’t been as serious about classwork in the past to take an opportunity to excel; for the ones who might have always wanted to tryout for a sport or a class play but haven’t had the never or the skill, to take the leap and give it their best shot.
It’s a chance for teachers and the other adults working in the schools to make an impression on young minds … to show them what it takes to make it in the real world, to offer a kind word in a time of need, to lend a helping hand to a youngster who might not get one anywhere else.
For the rest of the county, it means time to keep our eyes alert when we are behind the wheel, because the big “yellow” (I think they are more of an orange-yellow) buses will be transporting precious cargo to and from school every morning and afternoon. Not only that, but make sure you stop for those buses, too, because passing a stopped school bus is extremely dangerous and carries with it a high fine and lots of points on your license, meaning insurance rates likely will skyrocket.
So to those returning to the classroom, we hope you all have a great school year and learn a lot that will help you throughout your life; and for those of us not returning to the classroom, remember this is the next generation being taught knowledge of the past and present to carry us into the future, so keep them safe.
Wendy Byerly Wood is the associate editor of The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at wbyerly-wood@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1923.
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