Tiger mascot welcomes children for another year in district

Albert Lea students were welcomed back to school on Monday to begin another year.

Students at Lakeview Elementary School gathered with friends and family outside of the building before the school’s bells rang for the first time this year.

“I think it’s a collective excitement,” said Lakeview Principal Nick Sofio, “not just with the kids or the parents or the families that you see here today, too, but with our staff here at Lakeview of just the anticipation for what’s coming ahead of this school year and being able to spend a full year molding and working our kids, getting to know them, building just fantastic relationships with them. It’s one of the most exciting days of the year, to be honest with you.”

Sofio said Lakeview is continuing its chess and Spanish and is looking for other opportunities for its students this year. 

Fifth-grader Rosa Corey-Gruenes admitted feeling conflicting emotions about returning to school.

“I’m excited about school, but I’m also kind of sad because it’s the first day of school out of many days of school,” she said. “And it’s going to be a new thing for a while, and then it’s going to be really boring again, but I like school.”

The calendar for the 2017-18 school year includes:

Monday: Labor Day

Oct. 19-20: Fall break

Nov. 23-24: Thanksgiving break

Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Christmas break

March 12-16: Spring break

March 30: Day off for Good Friday

May 18: Last day of school

Building clerk Teresa Wilson said she was excited for the school year to start.

“Seeing all of the new kids that are coming in, they’re so sweet,” she said. “And get to see all of my old friends that I’ve missed over the summer.”