KEY LARGO, Fla. — Students across Monroe County returned to school Wednesday, with families and educators marking the start of a new school year in the Florida Keys.
At Key Largo School, staff members were preparing to welcome nearly 800 students to the elementary and middle school campus.
Principal Darren Pais said parents should pay close attention to changes affecting students as they return to school, including updated bus routes and bus names.
“We want to make sure that you get to the bus stop a little bit early,” Pais said. “We do have some changes in our bus routes and we have changes to our bus names.”
Pais also reminded parents that free and reduced-price meal forms must be completed again this year, even if a student qualified for the program last year.
“If you have signed your free and reduced lunch forms from last year, you have to do it again this year,” Pais said. “Please make sure you get that in.”
With students transitioning from summer break back to a school routine, Pais said getting enough sleep will be important.
“It’s been summertime, so you’ve got to get back in that routine,” he said. “So phones have to go away, you know, a couple of hours before bedtime, but you gotta get your rest.”
Pais said Key Largo School, now in its 56th year, will continue its focus on academics while giving students opportunities to participate in activities and family events.
The school’s annual Spooktacular Halloween celebration is expected to return, along with other family nights planned throughout the year. Pais said the school also has a new PTA board that is working on additional activities.
The school’s drama program is preparing for two major productions: “The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever” and “Beetlejuice.” Students from second and third grade through eighth grade are expected to participate, with high school students sometimes helping with props.
“We do try to get everybody involved,” Pais said. “So yeah, we’re excited, very exciting.”
The excitement was already evident during Tuesday’s Meet the Teacher event, when Pais said about 90% of families attended.
“Everybody was super excited and I know they’re going to be excited today, and I just can’t wait for that energy,” he said.
Pais encouraged students to embrace the new school year, calling it a special day for the Key Largo School community.
“It’s a great day to be a tornado and let’s go. Let’s get this year done,” he said.
But he also offered a reminder that the first-day excitement could come with some fatigue.
“There’ll be some zombies tomorrow, but that’s OK,” Pais said. “That’s why they got to get to bed early.”
As students begin returning to classes across South Florida, Local 10 wants to help celebrate the milestone by sharing your favorite back-to-school photos.
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