Mount Vernon City School District kicks off the 2024 - 2025 School Year

Elementary and middle school students pranced into their school buildings while waving goodbye to their parents on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, for the first day of school. Smiles filled the hallways as students and teachers greeted each other with warm welcomes to kick off the 2024 -2025 school year.

Teachers throughout the District could be seen standing outside of their respective schools to meet their new class for the year. Educators were also helping students find their way to their classrooms as they entered their buildings.

At Cecil H. Parker School, Principal Jacqueline Green was at the front of the building welcoming scholars into the building . Principals from all 16 schools are thrilled for the year and continuing with or starting new academic and social-emotional initiatives.

“I’m excited to welcome back our students, our families, and our staff,” said NMHZ Principal Barbara Abbey. “I'm excited to begin another great year of education and give our students the opportunity to grow in academic achievement, extracurricular activity experience, and just to have a good time, make new friends and continue to create a safe, warm and welcoming environment.”

Students from all four high schools were also gearing up for the new school year. During the first day, students from all over the District got a feel for what their day to day will look like in the upcoming year. They also learned about their peers and teachers through ice breakers and other activities.

Traphagen students entered their classrooms and quickly began learning to start the day. They also caught up with their teachers and friends throughout the morning. 

“I am most excited about meeting the kids and implementing stuff we’ve learned throughout the year for our students,” said Reno Benitez, teaching assistant at Traphagen School. 

Not only are students excited to get back into the classroom to learn, but they are also looking forward to taking on the year with their friends and making the most of it.

“I’m most excited to graduate and go to the dance,” said Genesis Bowen, an eighth-grade student at Traphagen School. “I have been here since fourth grade, and this is my last year here, so it’s fun to think about how me and my friends are going to celebrate it.”

Benjamin Turner Academy students entered their classrooms and also began preparing for a packed school year. They met their teachers, learned of expectations for the year and listened intently to their first lessons of the year.

“I’m excited to learn multiplication, have fun and learn ELA because I like to read,” said Da-Juan Tomlinson, third-grade student at Benjamin Turner Academy.

Teachers were ecstatic about returning to the classroom and continuing Acting Superintendent Dr. K Veronica Smith’s goal for the District to go back to basics and forward to mastery.

“I think just a new beginning, a new school year, new students, just the excitement of coming back to school,” said Susan Thornton-Smith, third-grade teacher at Benjamin Turner Academy. “We’re now working on ‘back to basics,’ which I think is really good. Taking the kids back to basic learning, that’s what I’m excited about.” 

Parents showed their excitement for the beginning of the school year and seeing their children continue to thrive emotionally and academically. At Nelson Mandela/Dr. Hosea Zollicoffer School, parents in several grade levels walked their children into the school and had the opportunity to meet their teacher for the first time.

“I’m so excited because today is the first day of school, and education is the best thing for the kids,” said Yolande Bonnomettre, mother of second-grade NMHZ student Farah and third-grade NMHZ student Christian. “The kids are so excited for their first day.”

Students, faculty and staff, quickly got back into the flow of school, as they started their educational journeys once again. Acting Superintendent Dr. K Veronica Smith is optimistic about the year and her mission to continue moving forward to mastery. 

“It is so exciting to see all our students, faculty and staff back in their schools ready to learn!” said Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith. “This year, we are going back to basics and forward to mastery, and it is encouraging to see all our teachers excitedly beginning their lessons with that initiative in mind. We will accomplish great things if we are all working together towards the same goal. Parental involvement will also play a big role this year, so I am glad so many parents came to personally drop their children off to start the year.” 

Click here to view the photo gallery from the first day of school!