Carmichael Elementary Kicks Off School Year

began the 2011-12 school year on Monday with students, parents and the school's faculty and staff members eager for the year ahead.

About 400 students are enrolled this year, said principal Brandei Castro, who spent the morning along with fellow staffers guiding parents and students to their appropriate classrooms.

After school, Castro walked around greeting parents picking up their students.

Gerardo Hernandez picked up his children Emilia, 8, and Eduardo, 6.

"This is (my daughter's) first year at this school," Hernandez said. "It's nice and clean and everyone is friendly.

Eduardo said he enjoyed his first day in the second grade.

"My teacher was really nice," he said, adding that his favorite subject is math.

Fellow second-grader Miyari Willis-Lockhart, 7, was picked up from school by her mother Channon.

"In class today, our teacher made us get a partner and talk about what we were learning in class," Miyari said.

Her mother echoed the positive comments on the faculty and staff.

"I love this school," Channon Willis-Lockhart said. "They're real nice, available when you need them and just easygoing."

Castro said that new to the school this year will be a running program as part of physical education for students, who will run one-half mile or one mile.

Academically, the school is moving forward.

"We have a literacy focus," she said. "Also, our science scores are up."

Back to School Night is set for Sept. 12 from 6 to 7 p.m.

Carmichael Elementary is the oldest elementary school in Carmichael and opened in 1917. It was the only elementary school in the community until the 1950's, according to the "Images of America: Carmichael" book by Kay Muther.

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Editor's Note: Carmichael Patch also visited Del Dayo Elementary and Rio Americano High School on Monday for the first day of classes. Check back Tuesday for those reports.