CRESTVIEW — New books, new school supplies, new haircuts and some pretty big backpacks were spotted around North Okaloosa County on the first week of school.
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What was in Jacob Woodall’s mammoth pack?
“A lot!” the Shoal River Middle School seventh-grader said.
As for the weather, school district officials’ fears of torrential storms and flooding didn’t materialize as long lines of cars formed outside area schools.
“We’ve been blessed right here,” Davidson Middle School Principal Jay Sanders said as he and his staff welcomed students. “The rain held off and it’s just a normal first day of school.”
EARLY OPENING
The Aug. 10 school opening came much earlier than in years past, but, Okaloosa County School District Community Affairs Director Henry Kelley said, the early start assures the fall semester’s finish before Christmas break.
Still, it was a little too soon for Davidson eighth-grader Jordan Bialorveki.
“I just got back from vacation at my grandparents’ in Montana at 6 a.m. yesterday,” she said.
Katie Brown dropped her son, Davidson sixth-grader Jay Isbell, off behind Winn-Dixie rather than fight traffic that clogged Old Bethel Road back to State Road 85.
“This is our first year here. It’s a little nerve-wracking dropping him off in all this,” she said as she watched Jay walk a half-block up Old Bethel to the school.
TRAFFIC
While traffic was heavy, drivers generally obeyed active school zone speed limits.
“Everybody’s been pretty good,” Crestview Police Officer Al Humphrey said, adding, “Knock on wood” as he tapped his head with his knuckles.
Still, streets around Antioch Elementary School experienced significant delays.
“It’s always the worst,” Community Policing Officer Sam Kimmons said, adding he was glad to be stationed at Crestview High School’s crosswalk on opening day.
Bob Sikes Elementary School resource officer Deputy Jennifer Vitale had extra help this year from her school safety patrol students.
As she donned her day-glo Sam Browne safety belt, fourth-grader Bella Gibbons said she had lots to look forward to this year, including “winning the spelling bee two years in a row.”
EXPECTATIONS
Throughout area schools, students shared their hopes for the new school year:
●“I want to have fun and learn math,” Bob Sikes kindergartner Katy Trautman said.
●“I’m looking forward to band and my other elective: sewing,” Shoal River Middle School seventh-grader Lily Rath said.
●“I’m looking forward to playing and jumping and running around on the playground,” Riverside Elementary kindergartner Avery Jenkins said.
●“I want to make friends!” her classmate, Natalie Young, said.
Adam Brown didn’t offer any expectations for the 2016-17 school year.
The Riverside second-grader was catching a few last winks on a bench outside the school as he and his mom, Karen, waited for the 8:45 a.m. start of a new school year.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa schools' first week brings heavy backpacks, high hopes (PHOTOS, VIDEO)