CCLP/LYNETTE SOWELL - Parents and students move in line toward Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy on the first day of the new school year. CCISD had 7,757 students enrolled as of the start of school on Monday, with the freshman class numbering 642 at CCHS, its highest first-day enrollment ever.

NEWEST STUDENTS

CCISD kicks off new school year with 7,757 students
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
 
On Monday morning, more than 7,700 students converged on campuses throughout Copperas Cove to begin the 2016-2017 school year.
 
Enrollment as of the first day was 7,757 in CCISD, up from the 7,724 from the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year.
 
Over at Copperas Cove High School, the largest freshman class walked through the doors on Monday morning, at 642.
 
The campus with the youngest CCISD students, Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy, welcomed three- and four-year-old prekindergarten students. Now in its third year as strictly a prekindergarten campus, the school had been transformed into a prekindergarten academy when CCISD changed its PreK programs to half-day sessions in the 2014-2015 school year.
 
Principal Mary Derrick described the start of the first day of school as “smooth,” even for those students whose first time it was attending the campus. For the first three days of school, parents were welcome to walk their students directly to their classrooms. Starting yesterday, drop-offs at the school were limited to the front door or the car line in front of the campus, with paraprofessionals ready to take turns meeting each car or bus, and walking the students into the school, as will be the regular practice.
 
Derrick also mentioned some of the new things in store for students compared to previous years.
 
“One of the new things this year is how we’re doing breakfast and lunch. They’re going traight to their teachers’ rooms, and they’re having a lesson, and then we’ll go to breakfast and lunch, like the other schools,” said principal Mary Derrick. “They go straight in, get started and get teaching.”
 
Derrick said the school has also expanded its bilingual program to include both three- and four-year-old students this year.
 
“There’s such a demand for that class, and it’s full, and people are asking for their kids to be in it,” Derrick said, noting that half of the students are Spanish speaking and the other half are English speaking, so they can learn from each other.
 
Most campuses had maintenance and repair project over the summer while their halls, classrooms and parking lots were empty. Copperas Cove Junior High School and Martin Walker Elementary School got new roofs, and the old carpet at Martin Walker was removed and tile was installed along with new storage cabinets were installed. The Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary campus received an electrical upgrade to replace the original 1958 system. Over at S.C. Lee Junior High, the gym floor was sanded, repainted and resealed, with the school’s interior receiving a coat of fresh paint and the campus’ front parking lot was removed and replaced with new base and asphalt. At Halstead Elementary School, HVAC units were installed over the summer. At all campus playgrounds, the pea gravel was replaced with wood mulch.
 
During the morning and afternoon drive time, drivers are cautioned to observe the speed limit in school zones and to refrain from using their phones or other mobile devices while driving through those areas.
 

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