The first day of school

By Staff Reports

While teachers have been back in the classroom for two days already, students throughout York County start a new school year today. We hope residents take note of that, especially when they're behind the wheel of their cars.

Nearly 39,000 students are expected to flock to schools in the Clover, Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York school districts. About 1,400 of those students will be the first to attend two new schools in Rock Hill, Dutchman Creek Middle and Mount Holly Elementary.

The new schools will create new traffic patterns in the city. And parents driving their children to school for the first time will not be used to the drill yet.

Veteran parents, those who have lugged kids to school for years, need to have patience with the newcomers. They were new at this once, too.

We also remind drivers to take care when behind a school bus and stop whenever the bus does. Driving around a stopped school bus is both illegal and extremely hazardous to students who might be disembarking or boarding the bus.

And to parents saddened after dropping off their little ones at school for the first time, don't worry -- you and your child will get through this. But we know how you feel.

And as for those parents who are celebrating the fact that their children will be at school most of the day, we know how you feel, too.