ROCKFORD, MI -- The drop-off line wrapped around the corner and dozens of students unloaded off school buses as students headed back to the classroom on Monday.

Lakes Elementary Principal Mindy McGinn was outside the school on Aug. 21, greeting the 500-plus students and keeping order with the morning rush of students.

“Hours and hours of work go into the first day, from where do teachers live in the building, to who’s on the class list, to materials and supplies that they need, how parents are dropping off kids and picking them up at the end of the day. What’s for lunch? Everything you can imagine and things you can’t imagine go into preparation,” McGinn remarked on how the faculty prepares for a new school year.

The students started lining up around 8:15 a.m. and by 8:35 a.m., the students were in the building and ready to start the 2023-24 school year.

At 10 a.m. students in first through fifth grade gathered outside the school at the flag pole for a ceremonial raising of the American flag to mark the students being back at school.

Lakes Elementary is one of eight, K-5 buildings in the district with a ninth one currently under construction. The elementary school has serviced the Rockford community for 74 years.

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