Satsuma students return to class Tuesday at Lee Elementary

SATSUMA, Ala. (WALA) - Students in Satsuma returned to the classrooms on Tuesday. And that included students at Lee Elementary.

For new Principal Heather Roe, she couldn’t wait for the first day of school.

“Day one, it was like the day before Christmas. I could not sleep last night. I was so excited to welcome all of our students back,” Roe said. “We got to see a lot this summer during our summer camps. But I was happy to see all of our first through sixth graders coming back with smiles on their faces today.”

The school-wide theme for the year is “Draw the Line”. A challenge extended to students, parents, faculty, and staff alike.

Third grade teacher Kendra Stewart said the theme carries personal meaning for her.

“For me, whenever we came up with draw the line, I personally took it as, okay, this is it. We’re going to draw the line, and it’s only up from here,” Stewart said. “We are going to do better. We are going to show up better. For me, my word this year was be prepared. And so every day my motto is to show up, draw the line, be prepared, and go up. Because these kids deserve it. We deserve it.”

Roe said the first day is important for establishing the care students will receive throughout the year.

“One of my favorite things about our school is that no matter who steps on our campus, someone here, some adult knows that child’s name and they are calling them by their name,” Roe said. “So even our little ones with nerves this morning, they were greeted by their first name and a big hug.”

Stewart echoed that focus on the whole student.

“Academics are great. But honestly, for me, if they leave my classroom a better person, and they are kind, and they can form relationships outside of these four walls, and they can communicate better, they can be a better human, then I’ve done my job,” Stewart said.