BEMIDJI 鈥� Though some shed tears while others excitedly rushed to their classrooms, over 300 students strolled into Lincoln Elementary to kick off the 2024-2025 school year on Tuesday.
Title 1 Teacher Darlene Riewer stood near the frontline welcoming students and parents alike as the new school year commenced.
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鈥淚鈥檓 just excited to see their faces, when they come back and see you, and give you a great big hug and say that they miss you,鈥� Riewer said. 鈥淲e hope to have a great year with the kids and make it the best that we can for them.鈥�
By 8:15 a.m., Principal Jason Luksik delivered announcements via intercom as teachers and staff routed Kindergarten through third-graders to their respective classrooms. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and birthday announcements for the day, he announced the Ojibwe word of the week: boozhoo, or hello.
Luksik noted the Ojibwe word of the week as just one part of fostering inclusivity at Lincoln Elementary. This is in addition to Ojibwe lettering on each door plaque throughout the building, providing the Ojibwe translation of each room鈥檚 English name.
鈥淲e鈥檝e created a culture committee and really focused on some of our students that have Native American background, really trying to make sure that they feel like a part of our community,鈥� he mentioned.
As day one ticked on, Luksik highlighted the work of teachers and staff that will continue through the end of May.
鈥淲e have great staff who come together and make sure that the kids are successful and safe,鈥� Luksik said. 鈥淥ur biggest hope is to continue what we鈥檝e been doing with our academics and ensure that every kid gets the education they deserve.鈥�
Luksik pointed to recent increases in MCA results 鈥� namely in reading and math 鈥� for Lincoln鈥檚 student body.
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鈥淜nowing that our staff put in that work and the students are working hard so they can achieve more every day 鈥� it goes back to building a community so that kids feel like they鈥檙e welcome here and that they want to be a part of our school,鈥� he added.
Riewer recently celebrated 20 years at Bemidji Area 歪歪漫画s, starting as a paraprofessional at Solway Elementary before transferring to Lincoln. No matter her assignment, she finds her own sense of community through her work with students.
鈥淚 could be having the worst morning at home with my own kids. There could be something else going on in life, but when you come here, you get to work with the kids and see their growth,鈥� Riewer left off. 鈥淵ou put in all the hard work and sometimes, you don鈥檛 see the results. But working with kids, you do.鈥�
Lincoln Elementary currently enrolls 323 students, up from 317 during the 2023-2024 school year.
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