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Long County back in school
Long 1st day little big
A young father walks his son to class Tuesday at Walker Elementary School in Long County. - photo by Denise Etheridge

Parents adjusted their young daughters’ crisp new hair bows and smoothed their sons’ cowlicks on the first day of school Tuesday as new and returning Long County students were welcomed to the system’s four schools for the 2017-18 school year.

Nine-year old Christan Acevedo appeared a bit apprehensive on his first day at Walker Elementary School. His father, Louis Acevedo, explained: “Normally the first day in a new school is always a little scary. Christan was at Smiley (Elementary School). But after a few days, it will be like he was always here.”

“We are very excited about the new school year and are looking forward to having our students return,” said Walker Elementary School Principal Lisa Long. “We have many new teachers. So our staff is energized and enthusiastic about a successful year.”

Long said this school year will be the last in the current building for Walker’s faculty and pupils. A new school is under construction and is expected to open in August 2018. Long said teachers took a tour of the new campus July 31. The new school is between Highway 84 and Elim Church Road, just east of the Ludowici city limits. The system broke ground on the new campus in May 2016. In June, school administrators approached local and state officials to discuss the possibility of acquiring funding for a secondary access road to the new school.

On Monday, the last day of summer break for students, Long County School Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters told the Courier it was too early in the school year to estimate the exact number of enrolled students. Some students from military families who enrolled during the summer relocated prior to the start of classes, he explained. Administrators also expect to have children of active duty service members enroll after the start of the current school year, the superintendent said.

Long’s elementary schools, Walker and Smiley, held open houses last week. Long’s middle and high schools held open houses Monday.


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