Winston Salem Forsyth County School Calendar
How did the first day of school go in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County? Tears, traffic – and hugs
Parents comforted teary-eyed children; students waited on their bus; and traffic snarled around some schools.
In other words, everything went about as expected on Monday, the first day of the 2023-24 school year for about 52,000 students attending Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
There was one wrench. A glitch in the district’s AT&T phone lines limited the number of calls coming in and going out. AT&T acknowledged the issue and worked to resolve it throughout the day.
Classmates watch as Madelyn Boston jumps high during a twist on morning roll call in Erin Morrison’s kindergarten class at Moore Elementary School. Monday was the first day of school for students in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
Allison Lee Isley photos, Journal
District leaders visited every school, taking stock of such things as whether the air-conditioning was working, the level of supplies in each classroom and if schools were appropriately cleaned.
Superintendent Tricia McManus said at a press conference at Brunson Elementary School that the leaders planned to convene in the afternoon and work through any issues in time for the second day of school.
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With 59 bus drivers short of a full roster, district leaders alerted parent earlier this month that buses were sure to run late.
Vincent Powell hugs third-grade teacher Jordan Clampitt at Moore. Clampitt was Vincent’s teacher last year. “We had a few lunch dates over the summer. We’re pretty good buddies,” Clampitt said.
Allison Lee Isley, Journal
“The delays that were communicated and expected have happened,” McManus said. “For the most part, it’s been a really smooth morning.”
There were some glitches with the school district’s app, Here Comes the Bus, that helps parents keep track of their child’s bus. Those issues have been resolved, McManus said.
Another issue was traffic at schools on heavily traveled roads. With many parents choosing to drop off their children on the first day of school, such congestion is expected, McManus said.
Addilyn Jones (left) and Nia Johnson hold hands in front of a “Moore” sign before their first day of kindergarten n Monday.
Allison Lee Isley, Journal
“We ask families to bear with us this week. It should continue to get better through the week,” she said.
The school year begins with 85 teacher vacancies, according to information presented last week to the school board. Sixty of the district’s 81 schools have three or fewer vacancies.
As of last Friday, 52,000 students had registered to attend school. McManus said she expects enrollment to be closer to 53,000, which is what it has been for the last few years.
Amelia Dellinger kisses her mother, Melissa, goodbye on her first day of kindergarten.
Allison Lee Isley, Journal
The press conference was held at Brunson for symbolic reasons. Sixty years ago, the school was the site of the first board meeting for the consolidated Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district. Previous to the consolidation, the city and the county had separate districts.
With 45,000 students, the consolidated district was the second largest in the state.
Today, with an expected 53,000 students, it is the fourth largest.
PHOTOS: First day of school at Moore Elementary
Addilyn Jones (left) and Nia Johnson hold hands in front of a “Moore” sign before their first day of kindergarten on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Parents walk their kids up to the front door for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Parents walk their kids up the sidewalk for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Phinley Johnson and Evan Estes pose for a photo on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Principal Justin Marckel welcomes students on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Principal Justin Marckel opens the car door for a student on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Amelia Dellinger kisses her mother, Melissa, goodbye on her first day of kindergarten on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Vincent Powell hugs third-grade teacher Jordan Clampitt on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C. Powell had Clampitt as his teacher last year. “We had a few lunch dates over the summer. We’re pretty good buddies,” said Clampitt.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Candace Coleman hugs her daughter, Chelsea, before her first day of fourth grade on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Otis Brown holds hands with his son, Osier, as they drop off his other son, Osias, for his first day of kindergarten on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
Classmates watch was Madelyn Boston jumps in place during a twist on morning roll call in Erin Morrison’s kindergarten class on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
First-grade students line up outside the classroom as teacher Wendy Peoples has them practice entering the classroom and putting their things away on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Moore Elementary School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Allison Lee Isley Journal
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