- January 23, 2025
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Students walk hand-in-hand into Ormond Beach Elementary on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16. Photo courtesy of Jerry Orzel/Volusia County Schools
A teacher at Ormond Beach Middle School welcomes students on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16. Photo courtesy of Jerry Orzel/Volusia County Schools
Volusia County Schools reported almost 60,000 students were enrolled in brick-and-mortar for the 2021-2022 school year. Photo courtesy of Jerry Orzel/Volusia County Schools
Students walk into Ormond Beach Middle School on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16. Photo courtesy of Jerry Orzel/Volusia County Schools
Students cross the quad at Seabreeze High School on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16. Photo courtesy of Jerry Orzel/Volusia County Schools
Calvin is ready for his first day of second grade. Courtesy photo
Scottie celebrated his first day of first grade on Monday, Aug. 16. Courtesy photo
Carson and Ryder wave for their first days of third and fifth grade. Courtesy photo
Dominic is ready for his first day of third grade. Courtesy photo
Alexia is ready for her first day of eighth grade. Courtesy photo
Roseanna is a freshman this year. Courtesy photo
Emma is a senior this year. Go class of 2022! Courtesy photo
Ginger is ready for her first day of seventh grade. Courtesy photo
Even the little ones are excited for school. Linda celebrated her first day of VPK. Courtesy photo
Ormond Beach Middle School welcomed its students back to school on Monday, Aug. 16, with fanfare: music, balloons, a red carpet and an appearance from their Panthers mascot.
“Teachers made some signs and were standing at various locations, just welcoming them back — letting them know how happy we are to have them back on campus, and that we’re kicking things off positively and a good start for the school year," OBMS Principal Susan Tuten said.
Overall, kids were happy to be back, she said. There were a lot of smiles present, and many students were looking for their friends, some of whom they hadn't seen in over a year due to the virtual learning options chosen by parents in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just like during the 2020-2021 school year, OBMS is doing its best to make sure the students are safe. In a pandemic school year, that translates to plenty of hand sanitizer being made available, social distancing when possible and keeping classrooms clean.
Masks for students remain optional; however, all district staff and adults visiting any Volusia County Schools campus or facility must wear a face covering.
OBMS saw a large number of students who were previously enrolled in virtual learning return to campus, Tuten said. Seeing them again was exhilarating.
“To see their energy, it just kind of transposed itself on me as well," Tuten said. "So a lot of smiles. Even though I had my mask on, I was smiling behind my mask."
At Ormond Beach Elementary School, Principal Shannon Hay tries to do something different every year to greet students on the first day of school. This year, they placed yard art to welcome them back to campus.
Everyone — students, teachers and parents — were excited to begin the 2021-2022 school year, she said. Like OBMS, OBE is taking the necessary steps to make sure students can learn in a safe environment, and Hay said they are doing so while balancing a "welcoming environment." Every year, the kids come back taller and with more confidence, she said, and seeing that is one of her favorite moments during the first days of school.
“I don’t think that there’s a principal or an administrator in this district that doesn’t love a building full of children — the laughter, the smiles, the learning," Hay said. "This is what we live for. This is what we want, and this is what we thrive in.”
Hay said she is looking forward for students participating in some of OBE's traditions, which she called the "heart and soul" of the school. These include the Reading Counts program, kindergarten's Polar Express-themed day and fifth grade's annual kickball game.
“I’m very proud of my school and our district because even though we are facing some challenging times as a nation, I think we’ve done a great job of still trying to keep our schools safe and welcoming for students," Hay said. "I think today seeing our students come back to school so happy just proves that we were able to do that balance.”
The start of the 2021-2022 school year also marked the return of self-expression through clothes.
The Volusia County School Board eliminated its uniform policy on July 27, and Tuten said most of the students were in compliance with the district's new dress code policy on the first day of school. She saw a very small number of students wearing rips or tears in their clothing, and not one pair of flip flops, slides or crocs — footwear that could present a safety hazard due to the school's stairs.
“For the most part, it was just very colorful, very individualized," Tuten said. "We might see some flowers with some plaids, and two different shoes — brand new shoes, but one might be red and one might be yellow — so they definitely were doing their style and that sort of thing.”
Her hope is that with more students returning to brick-and-mortar (Volusia County Schools reported 59,887 students were enrolled in its 92 schools for this school year), the students will be able to redeem some of the learning loss caused by the pandemic. OBMS is setting aside time for all students to either catch up or further enrich their education.
“We’re all looking forward to a very successful school year here and we’re so glad to have the students back on campus with us," tuten said. "The teachers have been planning for a week now some of those engaging activities that will help the students learn at their highest levels.”
