Cedar Mountain opens for new school year

VERNON — The Cedar Mountain Primary School first day, Friday, Sept. 8, held much anticipation for everybody as administrators, teachers, parents, and siblings waited for students to arrive in 23 big, yellow school buses.
Teacher Diana Czergovits said, “A new year — that exciting new beginning!”
In order to celebrate its 30th anniversary, Cedar Mountain Primary School held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the door.
The school opened its doors in 1987 to K-4 students. In Sept. 1994, all preschool, K and 1st grade students attended Walnut Ridge Primary School until June of 2017. Currently, Cedar Mountain houses kindergarten and first grade.
As part of the festivities, Cedar Mountain alumni and volunteers cheered and waved signs to the students while their buses rolled into the Cedar Mountain driveway.
Beautiful, clear, blue skies helped organize all the students as they arrived.
Bus driver Catherine Sonnema told her students, “You can go. Have a nice day.”
Assistant Superintendent Charles McKay and Principal Rosemary Gebhardt greeted and helped students find their teachers.
One little first-grade boy announced to a nearby adult, “I need Mrs. Zicopoulos's class.” Off he and his blue backpack whisked to teacher and line, where noses were carefully counted.
Cheery voices could be heard saying, “Good morning and happy first day!”
Little conversations crossed lines of children while they waited to go in Cedar Mountain.
One little girl called out to her friend with red braids, “We threw out our slime. It wasn't the same.”
“We're going to eat in the cafeteria. Do you want to eat with me?”
“I don't know. We have assigned tables.”
“I can't wait to go inside. This thing is so heavy.” [backpack]
“When are we going inside?”
Finally, there were big smiles, as everyone went inside for their first day of school.