Students return to school as summer comes to an end

Approximately 5,500 students started school Thursday throughout USD 443.
     To help prepare for the 2008-09 school year, schools in Dodge City hosted open houses and new student orientations, and they updated their academic and extracurricular activities.         Dodge City High School Principal Jacque Feist said freshman orientation went very well on Monday, with approximately 600 parents and students attending.
    "We had a 30-minute presentation to acclimate parents and students to help them get settled into the school routine," Feist said.
    The orientation also allowed freshman to pick up their class schedule and student IDs as well as find their classrooms, meet their teachers and try out their locker combinations.
    Feist said her main goal this year is the same one she has striven for in previous years.
    "The goal is to provide a safe and orderly learning environment," she said.
    This includes providing strong academic and activity programs because Feist said students perform better in the classroom when they participate in outside activities such as sports, theater and band.
    On Thursday, approximately 1,700 students filled the high school and began settling in to their classrooms and routines.
    Feist said she is looking forward to spending the year with them. 
    "I'm very much ready," she said. "We're prepared and ready for the kids."
     After much anticipation, Ross Elementary opened its doors to almost 400 K-4 students. 
    Even with ongoing construction, Ross Elementary Principal Terri Merrifield said the first day of school was relatively smooth for the opening of a new school with new students. 
    "Everyone was so excited with the beautiful building, and overall it was a great start of the school year," she said.
    Other elementary schools in Dodge City were able to offer students a change this year. 
    "The new thing we have at Beeson this year is learning in the U.S.," said Annette Aldape, principal of Beeson Elementary School.
    This program uses a patriotic theme in the curriculum. During the next few months, students will focus on politics and learning about the country.
    Aldape and the teachers at Beeson thought it was a good time to talk about these issues because of the upcoming presidential elections.
    Teachers spent the week preparing for class and incorporating the patriotic theme into their classroom decorations.
    On Wednesday, Beeson hosted an open house to help students and teachers prepare for the first day of classes. Then on Thursday, Beeson had an assembly program to welcome new students and introduce them to the school.
    Aldape said there have been no problems at Beeson so far.
    "We're excited about the year, and we're looking forward to the rest of it," she said.

Reach Cherise Forno at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at cherise.forno@dodgeglobe.com.