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Why, hello first day of school

Students – and no doubt parents –happy with kickoff

If the youthful exuberance on exhibit Monday at the first-day-back pep rally at Durango High School doesn’t slacken, the Demons would appear to be unstoppable in academics, extracurricular activities and sports.

The continuous buzz of private conversations made announcements, exhortations by cheerleaders and school officials’ counsel hard to capture.

When they raised their voices in unison, forget it. One of their most subdued collective-voice vocals was The Star Spangled Banner in tribute to the 200th anniversary of the national anthem.

The first day of school Monday at DHS, as at other district schools, was a half-day. Freshmen attended orientation in the morning. After the 12:30 p.m. pep rally, sophomores, juniors and seniors had their turn.

Other districts got the jump on 9-R, Animas High School and Bayfield students began classes last week.

Children in Ignacio schools started Monday, along with 9-R.

Students at Big Picture High School, on the other hand, got right down to business.

Big Picture finds itself in an unusual situation – it has a couple of openings available.

“We max out at 88 students,” said Internship Coordinator & Counselor Jenny Roper. “Last year, we had a waiting list most of the year.”

Big Picture, an alternative school that opened in 2009, had its third graduating class this spring.

Morgan Elvidge, in her third year at Big Picture, was all smiles Monday, ready to tackle her senior year. She drives every day from Ignacio.

“This place saved my life,” Morgan said. “I was not in a good place – literally and figuratively.”

The workshop-based curriculum and internships fit her needs, Morgan said. She is a published poet – “My Journey” in Stars in Our Hearts published by the World Poetry Movement.

The Liberty School is still a week from the opening bell, Head of School Christian Holmen said.

Last week and this week are being used to test students in math and language.

It looks like classes will start with a 20-member student body, the largest opening enrollment in its seven-year history, Holmen said.

Liberty students are gifted, dyslexic or both.

In Durango’s public schools, the day began at 8 a.m., with apparently no first-day glitches, said district spokeswoman Julie Popp.

“It looks good,” Popp said. “Everything is running smoothly.”

daler@durangoherald.com



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