School kicked off for Charlotte County Public Schools students on the foggy morning of Aug. 13 after a long summer vacation.

Eager students flooded through the school doors ready to begin the 2018-19 school year.

“I extend a warm Charlotte County Schools welcome to our students and their families, our dedicated employees and the community. We are excited to welcome everyone back into our schools and are eager to get the school year off to a great start,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Leonard previously.

In preparation for the new school year, members of the community also provided well wishes. During Vacation Bible School at Antioch Baptist Church in Red Oak, Bridgette Francis Malsbury said a responsive reading was completed as a part of their commencement ceremony.

The reading provided prayer for all students, teachers, bus drivers and staff of all schools for the upcoming year, she said.

Central Middle School (CMS) Principal Michael Haskins said “we are looking forward to another successful year in the classroom, in competition and in the community.”

He said on the first day of school at CMS, 410 students were welcomed back along with 6 new staff members and returning staff.

“The teachers and staff at Bacon District Elementary School are very excited to welcome back students and parents to the 2018-19 school year,” said Bacon District’s Principal William Pettus. “Last year was a very successful year for our students and we are looking forward to the same type of growth and success this year. We have plans in the works for some very exciting and educational events and we all look forward to serving the students in our community “

On their first day back, students may have noticed several changes at the different school facilities in the county, in addition to 17 new school buses with enhanced safety features, according to Leonard previously.

“We have been very busy this summer with many exciting projects to improve our school facilities,” she said previously. “Randolph-Henry High School has undergone renovations this summer. All students restrooms on the first and second floor of Randolph-Henry High School’s main building school are beautifully renovated and meet handicap accessibility requirements.”

In addition, she said Randolph-Henry also received new flooring in the library, featuring the school colors of navy and white, along with a security wall at the main entrance of the building to keep students and faculty safe.

Eureka Elementary School’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovations were also expected to be completed in time for the students return to school.

Leonard said previously additional updates are also scheduled for Bacon District and Phenix Elementary this upcoming year.

“The planning and ordering of materials are in progress,” said Leonard at that time. “Current projections and construction goals are in progress. Current projections and constructions goals are for Phenix students to be out of the trailers and into the new addition by the winter holiday.”

She said as far as the updated gyms at Bacon District and Phenix Elementary and other security/accessibility features, a spring and summer completion is projected.