Students return to classrooms across territory

Students across the territory toted new backpacks and hugged their parents and family members goodbye as they returned to school Monday.

Al Smith beamed with pride as he dropped off his granddaughter, Alycia Walker, 4, for her first day of kindergarten at Lockhart School on St. Thomas. “I couldn’t wait, I didn’t sleep last night,” Smith said. Biennel LaRose was also excited as he dropped off his children, Juensley, Ashley, and Staffany, and received an “Amazing Dad” T-shirt along with other fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and male role models who were there to see children off for their first day.

School safety monitor Leonicia Pariall handed out the shirts alongside Yvette Williams of Heavy Materials, which sponsored the initiative with the Education Department to celebrate men for taking an active role in their children’s education.