Beaumont, CA – A mix of emotions swirled through the humid morning air as families arrived at school for their first day of classes. To ease the anxiety of parents and students alike, the Beaumont Unified School District rolled out the red carpet on the first day––literally.
At the entrance of Anna M. Hause Elementary School, students high-fived teachers, maintenance workers, and the principal as they walked down a long, bright red carpet. With pop music booming from outdoor speakers and parents lining up with cameras, the scene had the vibes of a star-studded movie premiere.
Conrad Meyen, a grounds employee of two years, was one of the people welcoming students with high-fives. “I love seeing their faces. They make me so happy,” he beamed. His colleague, Arthur Arcenaux, Jr. shared similar sentiments. “A smile can go a long way.
At Tournament Hills Elementary School, two young parents arrived with their energetic French Bulldog named Stormi, and their first grade son, Marc Estrada. “I’m just nervous about him, like, making new friends,” explained the mother, Kayla Castillo. “He’s a very friendly-like kid, so I’m sure he’ll be doing good.” Her voice wavering before repeating, “He’ll be good.”
Two young twins named Aubrey and Kinsley Lopez wore matching smiles and outfits for their first day of Kindergarten. Their father, Steven Lopez, confidently stood by holding their bright pink and purple backpacks decorated with unicorns and flamingos. “I look forward to hearing how well they’re doing throughout the year,” Lopez shared. His wife, Kristina Lopez, said she felt sad about being away from her daughters for the first time, but was placing her trust in the “amazing” teachers at the school.
Starlight Elementary School students were greeted by County of Riverside 5th District Supervisor, Yxstian Gutierrez. With metallic pom-poms in hand, Supervisor Gutierrez cheered on students alongside Yesenia Casillas, the principal and her team. Just as new parents may have recognized Supervisor Gutierrez, kindergartners were able to recognize Principal Casillas from the Back to School Night event she held the day before. It is an event designed to meet teachers, ask questions, and “release those first day jitters,” explained Casillas.
Superintendent Mays Kakish oversees the District serving over 12,300 students each year. “It’s normal for parents to feel anxious on the first day of school. They’re putting a lot of trust in our team, but it is well placed–– student well-being remains our top priority. And our first day in 2024 has proven to be our best to date, thanks to our incredible team members throughout the Beaumont Unified School District.”
by Thomas Guzowski