Marlys Weaver-Stoesz

mweaver@etruth.com

GOSHEN — The kindergartners lined up outside the playground Friday, several carrying backpacks declaring their interest in Justin Bieber, Hello Kitty or Spiderman.

As teachers organized other children getting off the buses, those already lined up had time to chat and look at the brick building they would soon be entering for their first day of kindergarten at West Goshen Elementary.

“I’m glad my bus came,” one little girl said. “When we’re done with school, we can come out here and play,” another said while eyeing the nearby swingset.

Friday was the first day of the school year for Goshen Community Schools students.

At West Goshen, teachers were busy greeting new students and quickly catching up with past ones about the summer while also directing students to their classrooms or where they needed to be.

While several of the new kindergartners seemed uncertain of what would come next, a few also ran from their buses to the school, smiles across their faces.

While Goshen started Friday, Elkhart and Baugo school corporations start classes Tuesday. Middlebury begins Wednesday. Wa-Nee schools start Aug. 17. Fairfield’s first day for students is Aug. 20 and Concord’s is Aug. 22.