Iecava secondary school starts year with 777 students

Iecava Secondary School has started the new school year with 777 students, including 77 first-graders, LSM reported.

The school, one of the largest in Bauska Municipality, welcomed its youngest pupils at a ceremony at the Iecava stadium. Dressed in formal clothes and led by 12th-graders, the first-graders walked slowly onto the field while parents watched from the stands.

Students were happy to see one another again, taking photographs, laughing and enjoying the start of the school year. After the summer break, the school corridors and classrooms were once again filled with children’s voices and laughter.

Some first-graders said they were excited or nervous about starting school. One pupil said they were ready to learn, but admitted to feeling slightly afraid of the lessons. Another said they were nervous because they did not know many people at the school.

First-grade teacher Sandra Upelniece said she was also nervous because this would be her first class. “I see that I have fantastic children, so my anxiety has eased, and I am absolutely ready to take my first step tomorrow and teach these wonderful children,” she said.

A third-grade teacher said she was preparing to teach the final stage of primary school and felt slightly sad because she would eventually have to say goodbye to her current pupils before welcoming new first-graders next year.

Ninth-graders Amanda and Roberts described their feelings differently. Amanda said she felt fairly calm and planned to attend additional lessons to help with her studies. Roberts said he had mixed feelings because he did not know what he would do in the future, but felt quite good that day.

Across Latvia, about 19,000 first-graders began school, while around 224,000 children started their studies overall, according to the Ministry of Education and Science.