Walnut Valley begins 2015-16 School Year

Photo Courtesy: WVUSD
School spirit showed during opening pep rallies held at Diamond Bar High on Aug. 17.

By Kelli Gile

Walnut – Over 14,600 students headed back to school in the Walnut Valley Unified School District on Mon., Aug. 17.

At Diamond Bar High, over 3,000 students cheered with classmates during two superhero-themed pep rallies held in the gymnasium.

“We’re welcoming everyone back today!” exclaimed Janna Van Horn, United Student Body (USB) advisor.

The extravaganza featured Drumline, Dance Company, Pep, and Song performances, and highlighted fall sports programs.

“I love the spirit here and how everyone is involved in the 4 A’s – Academics, Activities, Arts, and Athletics,” senior April Song commented.

Forty USB members organized the event during the summer.

“We put in a lot of hours to help our students have a better time on campus – especially the rallies,” added Song, the USB finance director.

At Westhoff Elementary, over 600 students and families waited for the first bell of the new school year. Many took photos to mark the first day near welcome banners and helium balloons.

For the opening class activity, kindergarten teacher, Roxanne Dennen, read the “Kissing Hand,” a sweet account of a young raccoon who was nervous on the first day of school.  The children’s book details a mother raccoon comforting her little one by kissing its paw.  After the story, Dennen asked parents to kiss their youngsters’ hands, before saying goodbye.

“You’re ready for kindergarten now!” she exclaimed.

“You’re going to learn so much this year,” Dennen said as they sat criss-cross-applesauce on lettered carpet squares.

At C.J. Morris Elementary, Carol Martindale’s 3^rd Grade students loved the “First Day Jitters” story, because the teacher was also nervous about coming to school on the first day.

“It demonstrated that we all get excited and nervous about the first day of school and then we realize it is not so bad after all,” she said.

Collegewood Elementary 5^th Grade teacher, Laura O’Donnell, also had memorable first day.  At the end of last year, a 4^th Grader called to her and said, “Pick me for your class next year!” she recalled.  O’Donnell explained that she didn’t get to pick her students, but if she did, she certainly would.

“As luck would have it, he was on my class list,” O’Donnell shared. “When I walked down the line today to greet my students, he looked up at me, smiled, and whispered, ‘You picked me!’”

Photo Courtesy: WVUSD
Kindergartners heard the “Kissing Hand” during the opening activity of the 2015-2016 school year at Westhoff Elementary (shown with teacher Roxanne Dennen).