WILLIAMSBURG — The stairs leading up to Matthew Whaley Elementary School were filled with families Monday as they celebrated the first day of school, sending their children off with hugs, smiles and even a few tears.
The elementary school’s nearly 500 students were among more than 11,000 Williamsburg-James City County K-12 public school students who kicked off the new school year, joining children across Hampton Roads in the annual rite of passage.
Standing outside the school, new Williamsburg residents Jordan and Chris Hercules were among those wishing their four kids — Olivia, 8, Bryce, 10, Jayce, 6, and Ava, 5 — a good start to the new year. Originally from Hampton, the couple said they moved to the city because of the school division.
“We’ve heard really good things about the Williamsburg-James City County school system,” Jordan said.
Both Olivia and Bryce said they were excited to be in school again, with Bryce noting he wants to study the violin.
Nearby, 8-year-old Elise Parrish, standing with her mother, Katie, after her brother had already gone to class, said she was excited to see all of her friends again.
Elise said she looked forward to “just being in school again and learning and everything.”
There was a lot of enthusiasm for students’ first day back in class, said Amy Moser, the principal at Matthew Whaley. Alongside academic goals, the school works to develop student social skills while also promoting kindness, she said.
The school started a program last year called Agents of Kindness, which encourages students to choose an act of kindness for another peer. Their kind acts are awarded with T-shirts themed after the program, Moser said.
“We’re just trying to make sure we promote kids in understanding how to be kind to others and how to spread kindness throughout the school,” she said.
Nearly 150 new instructional staff members joined WJCC Schools for the new year, according to Superintendent Daniel Keever. Also new to the school division this year is the first Army JROTC program, which will be hosted at Jamestown High School with transportation provided for Lafayette and Warhill high school students.
The division also added three more schools to a kindergarten orientation model that was launched last year. The program allows new kindergarteners to go through an orientation process that helps teachers learn about them before being placed in classrooms.
The program, which began at D.J. Montague, Laurel Lane and Norge elementary schools, now includes J.B. Blayton, James River and Matoaka elementary schools. The orientation will take place until Monday.
In a statement, Keever said he is excited about the opportunities ahead this year for both students and their families. Noting his Elevate ’28 strategic plan, he said the school will continue to prepare every graduate for success in their post-high school journeys.
“Thank you for your partnership and support as we begin this new school year,” Keever said. “I look forward to all that we will accomplish together.”
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com