Hustle and Bustle at First Day of School - Park Campus

Excitement was in the air. It was the first day of school at schools, including Park Campus, on Wednesday, Aug. 24. 

The crowd of parents, grandparents, younger siblings and students gathered outside the front doors, as proud parents snapped pictures of their children. Families reconnected with other school families and students ran to each other asking the most important question of all "Who'd you get? Who'd you get?"

"The most important part of today for us is to provide the students with a safe and friendly environment," said Park Campus Principal Matt Melamed.

"We also use this half day of school to establish a routine and remind them of the expectations we have for them," he said. "We want them to know they have an opportunity to make a difference at school."

Autumn St. John, a fourth-grader, and Aubrey St. John, a seventh-grader, are looking forward to the new school year.

"I've been coming to this school since it opened. I'm really excited about being back," said Aubrey.

"I know who my teacher is, but I don't know who is in my class yet, so I'm excited to find out," said Autumn.

Park Campus is the only kindergarten through eighth-grade school in the district and is the largest with approximately 800 students. 

"We were busy all summer preparing for the school year, sending out packets, registration and responding to parent questions," said front office secretary Betsy Perry. 

"Because of being K-8, there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes," said Perry.

Despite its size, Park Campus is a still a neighborhood school, according to Melamed who begins his first year as principal. 

"I was a teacher here four years ago, so I know many of the families. They could not be more welcoming. Because we see their children for nine years we have the opportunity to develop close relationships with them," he said.

Melamed will be working with newly appointed Assistant Principal David Dinsmore, who was a teacher at Park Campus until this school year.

"David and I are building on the foundation that has already been set at this school. There are no major changes this year, but we will continue to seek continuous improvement," Melamed said.