The yellow blinking light warned all who were driving on Route 30 this morning that school is back in session.
Valerie Colon (right), 17, greets senior Deanna Moore, 17.
Sixth-grade teacher Sarah Coale shows sixth-grader
Aleana Glah, 11, how to use her locker.
Back to school at Lancaster Mennonite
The 1,500 students who attend the four campuses of Lancaster Mennonite School resumed class today.
On Monday, 11 public school districts will end their summer breaks, and Lancaster Catholic High School starts officially on Tuesday.
Lancaster Mennonite Superintendent Richard Thomas loves the first day of school.
"It's energizing," he said.
There was a hum in the air by 8 a.m. at Lancaster Mennonite's Lancaster campus, where students huddled in small groups to catch up and talk about what they expect for the new year.
Back to school at Lancaster MennoniteOne teenage girl darted across the road between buildings and leaped into a friend's arms.
Meanwhile, construction continued on the $12.3 million academic wing set to open in October. It will house classrooms for math, science, family and consumer science and administrative offices.
High school junior Justin Lapp, 17, wore a button-down, long-sleeved shirt and beige blazer for the first day.
"I'm really excited," he said of the new year. "I got a lot of the electives I wanted and a lot of the teachers I wanted."
He's also looking forward to an early-morning Bible study group.
"I'm excited to see what God has in store for us," he said.
Damian Delgado, 17, a senior, looked a little more relaxed in a T-shirt.
He was a bit nervous about the new year but eager to direct and write skits for chapel services.
He wouldn't mind studying theater when he graduates.
Olya Hershey, 13, was enthusiastic about starting eighth grade. She's an athlete whose primary sport is basketball.
"I was definitely nervous," she said. "We are in eighth grade....The sixth-graders will look up to us."
After homeroom today, students walked to the Fine Arts Center for a service in the chapel.
There, Thomas read to the students in grades 6-12 from the children's book, "The Little Engine That Could."
He started the tradition at Lancaster Mennonite 26 years ago when he was the principal.
He was reading the book to his 3-year-old daughter when he realized that its message of "what you can do with a positive attitude" was applicable to people of all ages.
In the book, a tiny blue train engine overcomes what others deemed insurmountable by repeating to itself as it chugs along, "I think I can. I think I can."
Staff writer Robyn Meadows can be reached at rmeadows@LNPnews.com or 481-6025.
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