‘Goosebumps and bubbles in their bellies’: Concord students celebrate first day of school

Beaver Meadow Principal Michele Vance (left), rings the bell on the first day of school on Wednesday, with the help of Assistant Principal Brittany Mahany as they welcome the students back. The ringing of the bell on the first day of school and the last day of school has been a tradition since the beginning of the school nearly 40 years ago. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

First grader Nolan Spetelunas says bye to his mother, Kelsie, on the first day of school at Beaver Meadow Elementary on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Kindergarten students Madison Judge (center) says hello to fellow student Camden Thistle as they line up on the first day of school at Beaver Meadown Elementary on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Kindergarten students Madison Judge (center) and Levi Harkins listen to their new teacher Michelle Mulligan as they line up on the first day of school at Beaver Meadown Elementary on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Kindergarten students Levi Harkins (center), and Madison Judge listen to their new teacher Michelle Mulligan as they line up on the first day of school at Beaver Meadown Elementary on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Kindergarten student Levi Harkins gets a kiss as he lines up for the first day of school at Beaver Meadow Elementary on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

By GEOFF FORESTER and ARIANNA MacNEILL

Monitor staff

Published: 08-28-2024 1:49 PM

Modified: 08-28-2024 2:22 PM

Wednesday was the first day of school in Concord, including Merrimakc Valley, and the beginning of the new academic year evoked a holiday feeling for Beaver Meadow Elementary School Principal Michele Vance, staff and students.

“The first day of school for us here in elementary, it’s our New Year’s,” Vance said. “This is more exciting than the calendar New Year for all of the teachers, all of the students and certainly all of us staff. Everybody’s going to have goosebumps and bubbles in their bellies. That’s how it works.”

Around 7:45 a.m., the entire school population, plus their families, gathered in front of the building with some music cranking in the background. Students lined up in front of the building with their teachers and school administrators gathered on the flag island.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, all sing the Beaver Meadow school song. Then, Vance gives her opening remarks.

The celebration is then capped off with a ringing of the school’s bell, which came from Italy, Vance said.

For students in Bow and Dunbarton, Wednesday also marked the beginning of the school year as they entered their new grades. In Hopkinton students started their new school year on Monday.

Pittsfield held its first day of school on Monday. Students in Epsom and Chichester began on Wednesday. Next week, Allenstown and Pembroke will welcome students back on.

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