Laguna Beach students welcomed back to school
The roar of school buses could be heard through the town Monday, as students in the Laguna Beach Unified School District returned to the classroom.
Eight buses pulled up to Top of the World Elementary about half an hour before the scheduled dismissal time, awaiting the arrival of children who were still buzzing with energy after seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
Some parents eager to hear about the first day of school shared relatable stories, including memories of pulled baby teeth and the scramble to leave a gift from the Tooth Fairy under a pillow.
All signified the reunion of community through the first day of classes, one that outgoing Laguna Beach school board president Carol Normandin described to colleagues as being among her favorite days of the year.
Early in the morning, Normandin had accompanied district staff to El Morro Elementary, where she was among those greeting children as they headed back to their halls of learning.
“Greeting children in the morning like that, I think, is very unique to our schools,” Normandin said. “Welcoming them, making them feel connected, is part of the mission of ‘Every student, every day.’”
Normandin has stated she will not seek reelection following the conclusion of her second four-year term. She helped guide district decisions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Supt. Jason Viloria visited all four school sites, each of which he said has seen varying degrees of shifts in leadership. Julie Hatchel, formerly principal at Top of the World, is serving in the same position at El Morro.
The El Morro community was reeling following the death of then principal Chris Duddy, who had been on the verge of retirement at the time of his passing in May.
“Earlier on, when Chris was discussing whether he was going to retire or not, Jason [Viloria] had already started working with Julie [Hatchel] about that school, what that would be like,” Normandin said. “Luckily, it was well before we lost Chris. … The conversations were already there. Chris was already helping her step into that space.
“I think for Chris, consistency was so important, and for Julie, consistency is so important, so I think that the strengths that they have are similar.”
Meghan Schooler, previously an assistant principal at Thurston Middle School, is now the principal at Top of the World.
As dismissal time approached, a floral shop worker took a special delivery for one student into the main office at Top of the World. Rupert, a parent who did not give his last name, commented that he was nervous taking his first-grade daughter to school, even though he was not the one going to class.
“We had fun with them for summer,” Rupert said. “It’s just exciting. They get to be with all their friends, and my kids enjoy school. They enjoy this school. It’s a great school.”
Viloria opened doors for students as they arrived at El Morro. Children also came across public safety personnel in uniform as they returned to campus.
“You see the same students coming up and talking to the [school resource officers],” Viloria said. “They know them. They see them on campus. They see them out and about in the community, and that’s really the purpose of the program — to establish that relationship early on with the students.
Viloria added that when students see school resource officers like Fred Yeilding around town, they have already built a positive connection.
“Super grateful to the police department and the fire department,” Viloria said. “They reached out, as well, and asked could they be a part of pick-up and drop-off this week as much as possible. They like to have a presence, and again, it’s that nice local feel that we can do that not many other places can do.”
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