Students leap off the bus, into a new school year

Aug 31, 2022

Students at Mary K. Goode and Henry B. Burkland Elementary Schools leapt off the buses in the morning with a mix of excitement and nervousness at the beginning of a new school year.

The children wore their best clothes—Grogu, more commonly known as Baby Yoda, t-shirts were a common sight—and some flaunted colorful hairstyles as they headed into school. Middleboro Little League gear was popular too, with a handful of students rocking the maroon and blue the team wore in Williamsport, Pa.

Plenty of teachers stood outside to greet the students, too. In addition to backpacks that featured pop cultural elements like Minecraft, Pokemon, and Jojo Siwa, many kids came equipped with bags of supplies for their classrooms, which the teachers appreciated. Some students needed help getting off the bus because of how much they brought for their classes.

“I think the first day really went very well,” said Superintendent Carolyn Lyons, who started her role this summer. “It was great to see the kids’ faces and see them return to school. They appeared happy and excited for the year ahead. Our staff looked relaxed and like they had good summers.”

The district held two professional development days before the students arrived on Wednesday. Teachers prepared their classrooms and met with their subject departments, and there was a convocation ceremony which included a song performed by Middleboro High School’s performing arts program.

“It was very celebratory,” Lyons said. “I think everybody really enjoyed it. I saw a few teachers with tears in their eyes. I mean, they’re watching their former students who have grown up, and it was really great to incorporate students.”

Regarding COVID, “we’re as close to normal as we could be,” said Burkland Assistant Principal Greg Thomas, who greeted students as they got off the bus. Lyons agrees and said that COVID protocols have not changed from the end of last school year. That means masks and COVID tests are not required.

“I think there’s an excitement here in Middleboro about the future,” Lyons says. “I felt it over the first two days of professional development, and I felt it today with our students.”