This morning, folks in Roanoke County packed up the bookbags and the lunch boxes and sent their children, tweens, and teens off to the first day of the 2008-09 school year. Did you take a picture of your child getting on the bus (especially kindergarten or pre-k)? Send it to us at news@sosalem.com and we'll put it up here.

Orientation for Glenvar High School students last Thursday, August 21, had a huge turnout. 131 families out of 167 were present to learn the ins and outs of being a ninth-grader. Assistant principal Sonya Cline had a big part of organizing the school's first orientation, revamped and aimed at "making their transition a little bit smoother" from middle to high school, principal Joe Hafey said.

"How many of your parents went to high school here?" Hafey asked as about half of the auditorium raised their hands. Glenvar is a very family- and tradition- focused school, and he reminded the freshmen to present themselves in a respectful way.

After a presentation to parents and students about tradition, the dress code, policies, and even a revisit to what it means to be a Highlander, the freshmen went around and met their teachers, class by class (and picked up their personal school-issued laptops).

Parents waiting along the sidelines didn't seem to be too worried about the big move from the middle school pond to high school, mostly because the schools are right next door.

"I don't think I'm really that concerned about it. It's more of the same, it's all Glenvar," Linda Allen, mom of Tammy Allen, said.

Around the first corner, first-year teacher Lane Brumback stood, waiting to welcome her first class ever in World Geography. She graduated from Roanoke College in 2007, and she had the help of fellow teacher Sherry Siska to get things started.

Photo: Erin Beard (in green) walks to meet her first period World Geography Class with Lane Brumback and Sherri Siska.

We had a previous post about Glenvar High School on August 22. We also have a photo gallery of Glenvar's fall sports teams.

We also had posts about Roanoke County schools in general on August 15 and August 7.

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• Posted by miranda adkins in Schools and education
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