First Days

At left, Pine Island principal Jane Hamburger, along with the Pine Island Wildcub (third grader Naomi Hanson), welcomes students from the arriving buses to school on the first day. At upper right, third-grader John Evan, left, and Jennifer Hoffmann, who started fifth grade this week, flank the Pine Island Wildcub on the first day of school. Mrs. Jane Hamburger is standing behind them. At lower right, you could just feel the excitement as Sanfordville Elementary School students who live on Weldon Way wait for the school bus Tuesday morning to start the new school year. In front, from left, are kindergarten student Jason Pedone, second grader Noah Blank, first grader Rocco Garcia, and fifth grader Samara Blank. In back is Melissa Martineson, who is starting third grade. Jason was a bit shy on his first day of kindergarten. His mom, Karina, though, held it together pretty well. "He's doing better than his mom," she commented out of earshot of Jason, who she described as both nervous and excited. Photos by Linda Smith Hancharick