Teachers and administrators have been busy already – most, in fact, have been busy all summer with professional development, textbook adoptions, curriculum planning and more – and now the all-important first day of school has arrived.

County students start back Wednesday this week, and Russellville students begin Thursday.

We’d like to wish a very happy return to the classroom to all students and school personnel. We know our local administrators, staff and teachers have spent much of the “summer break” preparing for an excellent fall semester, and while some students might be whining and wishing for a few more days off, most are likely excited to see their friends and favorite teachers again.

If you interact with a young person, whether they are a member of your church, the cashier at a local business or maybe your neighbor across the street, be sure to share a positive word or some encouragement as they dust off their backpacks, sharpen their pencils and choose those first-day outfits. This next week or so – and, really, all year long – ask them how school is going, and take the time to listen.

Our hard-working teachers, administrators and other school staff also deserve a word of encouragement this time of year. Principals, teachers, specialists, lunchroom workers, bus drivers, custodians, counselors, coaches and more are working to get to know hundreds of new faces and develop a safe and welcoming environment for the students in their care. When the opportunity arises, we hope you will join us in thanking them for what they do and in encouraging them along the way.

Local school activities constitute a significant portion of our coverage here at the Franklin County Times. From academic achievers to star athletes, from club projects to innovative classroom assignments, we’ll be keeping a close eye on everything going on in our schools across the county, and we’ll do our best to keep you in the know. We’re excited to highlight all the amazing students and teachers in our two local systems.

Even if you’re not a school employee, a student or a parent of a student, the return to school can still be an important time for you! Be marking your calendar for Friday night football and making plans to support students in fine arts shows, science displays, character exhibits and more. Be sure to keep an eye out for school buses when you’re on the road and observe all laws regarding sharing the roadway with them. Think about ways you can volunteer, donate or in any other way support the work our schools are doing.

We’re all part of one community together. Making sure our students get a great education benefits us all.

Happy first day of school!