Celebrating the Start of a New School Year

It was the type of celebration you usually see reserved for the end of the school year, not the beginning. Students, parents and educators from Palos Community Consolidated School District 118 were out in full force to celebrate the start of a new school year.

The 9th annual Back to School Picnic was held at Palos South Middle School. It was an opportunity for classmates and fellow parents to reunite after summer break.

"It is a nice way to say that the school year has really started," said Dr. Joseph Dubec, the district's superintendent. "The community comes out and enjoys seeing one another, and reuniting after the summer."

Colleen Engel's daughter Brenna is just starting kindergarten in the district.

"We just wanted to come out and meet people," Engel said.

Brenna and little brother Jack took advantage of the full range of activities offered at the picnic, from face painting to a bouncy house.

Lisa Korbitz says she is glad the district puts together an activity like this to start the year.

"We are having a blast," Korbitz said. "They get to be reunited with their friends."

Korbitz's daughter Gail and son Jeffery are entering 1st and 3rd grades respectively. Both ran into a number of classmates at the picnic.

For a closer look at the picnic, click through the photo gallery below.