By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Students across St. John the Baptist Parish returned to school Monday with a mixture of joy, trepidation and excitement.

At the beginning of every school year, returning students face the daunting prospect of new classes, new classmates and an increasingly difficult workload. But some students have a little more adjusting to do than others.

At LaPlace Elementary School, which is currently undergoing major renovations, many children and parents had to get used to the idea of attending class in portable trailers, But according to Principal Alison Cupit, the day went off without a hitch.

“This morning went smoother than most of our first mornings,” she said.

She said the students immediately took to their new environs, which they have dubbed “trailer city.”

“The walk to the back may be a little longer,” said Cupit, adding, “They’re actually nicer than what they had before.”

Cupit said she was somewhat worried in the weeks leading up to Monday that the school would not be ready. Teachers were unable to access their classes until last week. But some long weekends and much dedication got the job done.

“I’m just glad that everything fell into place,” she said.

Although construction, which is slated to begin in November, is scheduled to last 18 months, Cupit is already happy with some of the changes.

“Our school used to be open, and one of my biggest concerns was the safety of the students,” she said.

The school now only has one way in or out, and everyone must pass by the office before entering the campus.

“Even though this is temporary, they made it a safe, secure place for our students,” said Cupit.

The day’s activities focused on relationship building exercises, the idea for which came from the Motion Leadership training teachers and administrators took part in over the past year and a half.

Said Cupit, “The kids get to know each other, and the teachers get to know the students.”

Another set of students who had much assimilating to do were this year’s incoming high school freshmen.

At East St. John High School, freshmen did not begin until Tuesday, but that day was dedicated entirely to them.

A holiday for all other students at the school, freshmen started the day with an assembly, where they were greeted by Principal Patricia Triche before watching a skit about the uniform code presented by the school’s Ignition Mentors.

“It’s part of the high school redesign,” explained Triche.

Following an introduction to the procedures of their new classes, the students engaged in fun relationship-building activities.

On Monday at ESJHS, it was business as usual for returning students.

“We have had such a good first day,” said Triche.

Not all students there Monday were enrolled at East St. John last year, however.

“Our enrollment is up,” she Triche. “We had close to 80 registrations today.”

Triche credited the school’s recent removal from the state’s “academically unacceptable” list with the increased student population.

The school’s new and improved status was also noticed by the Wildcat football team, who presented Triche with roses and a card that read, “You won your first ‘state’ championship — now we have to win ours.”