Thursday was the first day of school for the Wayne Central School District, and several others in the area.

The Wayne Central Primary School was able to keep a tradition of allowing the parents ride with their little ones on the bus to kick off the school year.

Usually on the first day, parents can come into the school and meet the teachers too, but this year was different due to the coronavirus pandemic. Parents stayed on the bus and waved goodbye to their sons and daughters. The first-timers came ready with their masks and backpacks stuffed with school supplies, extra masks, and even their own toys to play with at recess.

Gregory Bach, who rode on the bus with his son, said it was a special moment for them.

“Brings me back to my childhood days when I took the bus, and you try to reflect on that a little bit,” said Bach. “And the best part for me was being able to live through his eyes a little bit, watching him look out the school bus window, comment on the kids getting on and off the bus.”

More buses are running with fewer kids on it per bus. The classrooms look a little different this year too. Less students are in each class to spread them out with only 12 to 13 students per class. 

The district is doing full-time in-person classes for the most part. Principal Pamela Tatro said they are happy to have the kids back.

“We know with our youngest learners, it is most beneficial to have a teacher in front of them and for them to be around their friends,” said Tatro. “So we’re excited to be able to offer that opportunity while we’re still offering our parents who chose to have their kids learn from a remote situation. We’re excited to have them back to.”

Kindergartners will be the only grade doing a half-day. The first day of school was supposed to be Tuesday, but the district moved it to today to give the teachers more time to prepare.

Everyone seemed ready to go today though and the school and parents are hoping for the best.