(Updated at 10:50 a.m.) With the notable exception of Barcroft Elementary, which opened on Aug. 1, today was the first day of school for Arlington Public Schools students.
Kids and parents flocked back to local elementary, middle and high schools this morning, as the APS bus fleet traversed local roads. There were no major hiccups reported, save perhaps a fire alarm that was set off in the teacher’s lounge of Taylor Elementary around 10 a.m. (No smoke or fire was found.)
This morning at Abingdon Elementary, which is being renovated and expanded, students were greeted by a number of newly-installed relocatable classroom trailers on the field next to the school. Several Arlington County police officers were stationed at the intersection of 29th Street S. and S. Abingdon Street, to help keep cars moving amid a new traffic pattern for dropping off students.
At Carlin Springs Elementary, meanwhile, administrators literally rolled out a red carpet for new and returning students. At the new Arlington Tech, the program’s first 40 students arrived and began classes. At the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program, upperclassmen formed tunnels for freshman students on their first day.
Arlington County Police and APS are urging drivers to be extra cautious on the roads as school gets back underway.
ACPD and APS officials, School Board members and school administrators were busy ringing in the first day of school on Twitter this morning. More back-to-school tweets, after the jump.
Reminder as school begins. Don't pass school buses when you see the flashing stop arm and lights. #APSBack2School pic.twitter.com/uZr0yrUa1I
— Arlington Schools (@APSVirginia) September 6, 2016
Bus drivers preparing to bring our students in on their first day! #APSBack2School pic.twitter.com/T88JdhnFkK
— Arlington Schools (@APSVirginia) September 6, 2016
Safety FIRST! Watch out for our students this and every morning!@APSVaSchoolBd @APSVirginia @APSDrew pic.twitter.com/SY3cXgu6l5
— James S. Lander (@jameslander) September 6, 2016
Welcome back, @APSVirginia! We're assisting parents safely drop off students at @AbingdonGIFT! #APSBack2School pic.twitter.com/qLdDXl6g3C
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) September 6, 2016
Help send our students back to school safely by yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks! #APSBack2School pic.twitter.com/JwNrgnMMKi
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) September 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/ASFSOnline/status/773157940559745024
Have a great school year JEFFERSON! pic.twitter.com/VlwTksAV6J
— Reid Goldstein (@ReidForSchools) September 6, 2016
We're ensuring school buses arrive safely! Do your part by always stopping for school buses with extended stop arms! pic.twitter.com/6Xup1ImDXY
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) September 6, 2016
LIVE on #Periscope: Mr. Mcbride welcomes students to another amazing year @ Kenmore. https://t.co/9VnMQvhKOn
— APS Secondary Ed (@APS_SecondaryEd) September 6, 2016
Welcome class of 2020! pic.twitter.com/IghCLI2d6u
— Yorktown Athletics (@yhssports) September 6, 2016