That was summer that just flew by

The credits are rolling on an action-packed summer. Now it's time to get back to business.

Students in Bellevue watched as the final hours of summer vacation drew to a close Wednesday. The states fifth largest school district will be one of the first in the metro to return to the classroom. And the classroom is ready for them.

Samira Hernandez and Abbi Synowiecki were enjoying their last few hours of summer vacation when we crossed paths with them. They’re excited about going to high school but a little jealous of their friends in other districts who still have some summer left.

Abbi told us, “My friends are going back next week or in a few weeks and, it’s like, I start tomorrow.”

Samira said, “Most of my friends are at Millard and they’re all starting on Monday. I wish I would have had that extra weekend just to stay home.”

Teachers in Bellevue have already been in the classroom working to get things ready for their students.

Second-year teacher Jason Bald says this is a big year for his fourth-grade students. “This age is really big for kids 9 and 10-year-olds - fourth graders. They’re making a big jump and they’re starting to really dive into some harder academics and learn a lot about themselves. So, it’s exciting.”

Mr. Bald’s classroom is set up a little differently than the traditional classroom. Avery Elementary School Principal John Campbell says the new set-up is called flexible seating, an alternate type of seating using balls, couches and stools for seats, allowing students more movement.

Campbell said, “I personally feel and I think research shows that it provides them the opportunity to, if you’re a mover like I was when I was in elementary, it gives the opportunity to give that freedom to move around but also to be more attentive to what’s going on during the class.”

Mr. Bald hoped to have everything ready when he met his students Thursday evening and he had already done a little studying of his own.

“I’ve been spending time studying my students’ names and faces and hopefully tonight at Back to School Night I can shake their hand and know their name already.”

Thursday is the first day of school for Bellevue students, K-9 and students new to Bellevue East and West High School. Classes start Friday for students in grades 10-12.