Rain Makes For A Soggy Start To Suffield School Year

Bus drivers sloshed through the heavy rain to get to young students playing in puddles while parents held umbrellas above their heads.

Despite a blustery beginning, the first day of school for Suffield's students went off without much of a hitch at all.

"It was rainy, but the students' smiles brightened the day," Spaulding Elementary Principal Angie Roman said.

"First Student (Transportation) did a great job with getting the students to school," Superintendent of Schools Karen Baldwin said, noting that the busses arrived on time despite the weather challenges.

Baldwin said she is excited about some of the changes in the district including wireless access in all the schools and 22 new staffers across the district.

"We did a lot of work this summer in hiring," she said. "We're doing what it takes to attract the best and brightest new professionals." 

As for students like Rosie LaRochelle, a first grader at Spaulding, she was just happy to play with her friend Violet Fuller during recess and receive her gold medal for turning in her reading list.

Students will finish out the rest of the week before taking a break on Monday for Labor Day. School is back in session Sept. 4.