As of 8 a.m. today, August 7, the 2009-2010 school year officially started in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS).  That means about 42,000 students and 3,400 teachers hit the hallowed halls of all 83 public schools in the parish to start a new year of learning.

Teachers, school staff, administrators, volunteers and principals were at their posts bright and early this morning to greet students and their parents, direct them to breakfast or classrooms and welcome them to school.  New Superintendent John Dilworth made the rounds, as well, and all schools reported smooth openings this morning.

The district’s Transportation Department ran like a well-oiled machine, as well, especially when you consider school buses delivered more than 25,000 East Baton Rouge students to 83 schools throughout the parish with only a few issues reported.

Already the School System’s 2009-2010 school year is off to a great start.  End-of-course Algebra I test scores for middle and high school students recently released by the state show marked improvement for the district.  EBRPSS had more students scoring in the Excellent and Good levels and fewer scoring in the Needs Improvement level than last year.  In fact, district students outscored the state average at the Excellent level.  All students from Glasgow Middle School scored in the top two categories with 91 percent at the Excellent level.

Schools were busy throughout the day, especially if they had special events or activities for students.  For instance, Northeast Elementary School walked students through various science activity stations to explode small volcanoes and make slime, among other things.  La Belle Aire Elementary School held a balloon launch midday.  Each balloon was filled with piece of paper listing the school’s goals for the year.

Villa del Rey Elementary School’s principal, Mauretta Hurst, arranged for a jazz band to greet new students in New Orleans style.  Most employees were too busy to tap their toes, however.  Central Office administrator Sandra Smith (first photo, left), for example, helped direct students to their classes in the morning. 

In Geralyn Broussard’s first-grade class at the newly renovated and opened The Dufrocq School, students were busy making sentences out of words printed on individual pieces of paper.  Student Geremiah Wilson (second photo) was excited to finish his early.