BARTLETT (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Students from the state’s second largest school district said goodbye to summer vacation and hello to a new school year Tuesday morning.
Students arriving at Bartlett High School in District U-46 were greeted by cheerleaders and administrators and walked through the mouth of an inflated hawk head to enter school.
Principal Mike Demovsky wore a long-sleeved green t-shirt with the word “believe” on it. He was pumped up for the first day of classes for the Bartlett Hawks.
“We’re really happy for all of our kids. Believe, honor, succeed. We are B-H-S and we dream big! Caw-CAW!!” Demovsky said.
Senior Palvisha Khan was ready for the year.
“I’m excited. It’s going to be, I feel, like a really good year,” she said.
District U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders rode with students on one of the school buses to Bartlett High, got off the bus and high-fived students as they walked toward the main entrance.
“This is going to be a great school year. The feeling already coming off of the bus here this morning with students is unlike all the past couple of years where we had an anxiety about COVID," said Sanders.
Masks are not required but are recommended. Senior Emily Bauer said she notices the difference between Day One last year and this year.
“It was really weird coming into school and not being able to see anybody’s faces but, it’s like a breath of fresh air being able to see everybody and have it be back to normal, for the most part,” Bauer said.
Supt. Sanders said that, because of the social and emotional toll COVID has taken on students and staff, there are now more social workers and counselors in schools.
There are 35,000 elementary, middle and high school students in District U-46 which covers all or parts of 11 northwestern suburbs, including Elgin, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg.
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