School kicks off in Winsted

WINSTED — Laurel City students saw their summer end and a new year of school begin Wednesday, as school buses rolled through town to pick up students in the K-8 system and high schoolers from The Gilbert School.

There was excitement in the air as students got off the bus at Hinsdale Elementary school, some of them holding hands and hugging each other before heading off to class.

Students at Pearson Middle School were able to attend the first day of school after a period of uncertainty, with the school finishing an asbestos-remediation project with just hours to spare before Wednesday’s opening.

By midday Wednesday, it appeared everything was going well for the first day. “It’s going very, very smoothly,� said Pearson secretary Francine Shandra during a quick phone call. “The kids are all excited, and so are the teachers and the staff. We’re very busy.�

A mix of emotions could be seen on the faces of Winsted children as they caught up with friends and began the daily grind of being in school. Uniformed students from St. Anthony School could be seen congregating at bus stops throughout town, some with proud parents by their side, and the town’s crossing guard contingent returned to the streets.

Lindsey Burrill contributed to this story.