New school year starts

Students reported to school on Thursday, August 19, for the beginning of the 2010-11 school year. Each school in the district held opening orientation or opening ceremonies to welcome the students to a new year.

Former student Desi DeLong sings the National Anthem during the flag ceremony at Falls City Middle School.

North School
On the evening of Wednesday, August 18, over 60 kindergarten students, along with their parents, attended an orientation. To acquaint the students with the school and relieve some of their anxiety, kindergarten students and parents discussed the first day routine, toured the building,met the teachers and visited the classrooms. On the same evening, the Parent-Child Center also had their open house. The first grade and second grade hosted an open house on the evening of August 19th. Students and parents toured the school, visited the classrooms, and visited with the school faculty.


Ernie Valentine, new North School principal, welcomes students to a new school year.

South School
The first day at South School began with a short assembly. All the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students recited the "Pledge of Allegiance" in unison, followed by introductions of the school staff. Students were dismissed to their classrooms for a full day of activities. The day ended with an Open House for parents at 6:00 P.M.

Students line up in the South School gym to go to their 2010-11 classrooms with their new teachers.

Middle School
The Women's Auxiliary, VFW # 1765, prepared an opening ceremony and presented the flags on the first day at Falls City Middle School. Glenda Nelson, VFW member and retired South School teacher, led the students in the "Pledge of Allegiance." She also spoke to the students about patriotism and the importance and procedures of respecting the flag. Desi DeLong sang the "Star Spangled Banner."

The students were introduced to the staff, welcomed, and given introductory instructions from Principal Rick Johnson. A few "Words of Wisdom" were shared by Guidance Counselor Linnette Fankhauser as part of the opening day welcome. Students were shown the new Tigers' ROAR (Respect, Obey Safety Rules, Achievement, Responsibility) Banner. Reminders of expectations of behaviors around the building and in the classroom were presented by the PRIDE (Putting Respect in Daily Education) Committee. they talked about the reward system and how students could earn tickets for possible rewards each quarter.

At the end of the presentations, students were sent to their homerooms for first day hand-outs and other instructions. They then went through their schedule and reported to classes to find all rooms and meet their teachers. The day ended with an open house from 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Middle School students listen as Principal Rick Johnson gives them first-day-of-school information.

High School
Falls City High School students first reported to the Old Gym to pick up a packet of information that included their schedules, student information forms with directions on making changes, district calendar, and teacher schedules. They then went to the auditorium where they received a greeting from Gale Dunkhas, high school principal. Throughout the morning of the first day of school, the students then met by grade with Principal Dunkhas to review the student handbook, elect class officers, establish goals and to discuss the expectations for the upcoming year.

Swede, the therapy dog, and Sara Barker, FCHS guidance counselor, get ready to welcome students in the high school auditorium on the first day of school.