Just stepping off the bus on Opening Day at the Stratford School, this group of boys was ready to take on the challenges of a new school year. On Wednesday, September 3rd students across the district anxiously awaited their school buses on the first day of school. For kindergartners and their parents, this day brought beaming faces and, yes, a few butterflies, as they began their educational journey in the Garden City Public Schools. Dressed in their finest first-day clothes and carrying brand new backpacks and lunch boxes, these youngest students, the Class of 2021, waved goodbye to mom and dad and bravely stepped into a new chapter in their lives.

At the same time, waiting in shining classrooms filled with new supplies and educational possibilities across the district's seven schools, K - 12 teachers anxiously anticipated the arrival of their new students. After much preparation and planning, Garden City teachers and support staff were ready for the opening of the schools' doors and the challenges and rewards of the educational year to come.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Robert Feirsen, visited the buildings on Opening Day and even assisted with debarking students as they arrived at the Homestead School. The completion of multiple summer construction and maintenance projects was also in evidence throughout the district on Opening Day - ongoing painting and floor abatement projects in all seven buildings; resurfacing of the blacktop and soft surface playground areas at the primary schools; refinishing of the gymnasium floor at Stratford and the conversion of interior spaces for new classroom and student service areas; new exterior doors at the middle and elementary schools; ongoing locker replacement at the middle and high school; and, at the high school, concrete work on the student patio, resurfacing of the track, reconfiguration of classroom spaces, and all new furniture and hardware in one computer classroom.

Much effort, preparation and attention to detail by district personnel, from the physical plant to lesson-planning, went into setting the stage for making this year a successful and memorable one for each and every Garden City student.

At the Stewart School, these fourth-graders enjoyed illustrating examples of good character points on the first day of school. Best wishes to all of our students for a wonderful 2008-2009 school year!

In Dr. Judith Hecker's 8th grade German class, students were immediately immersed in the German language as they shared their summer vacation activities, in German, of course, with their classmates.Being reunited with friends brought out the smiles for these students as they attended their first day of classes at Garden City High School.Kindergarten students at the Hemlock School gathered round their teacher to share stories and to learn about each other and classroom procedures on the first day of school.During their very first trip to their school's library, kindergartners at the Locust School discussed the book The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians with librarian Ms. Dawn Friedrich.