By Amber Jugensen | Staff Writer
Great Hera! Is that Wonder Woman wandering the halls of Tomlin Middle School on the first day of school?
Although Principal Susan Sullivan doesn’t drive an invisible jet to class, and her light blond hair is a stark contrast to the traditional ebony, she certainly rocked the famous red-and-blue outfit worn by the amazonian comic book hero.
Students entering the school smiled as they caught sight of their playful principal, who greeted everyone with waves and Wonder Woman-esque poses Aug. 21. Some snapped photos on their cell phones. Sullivan wore the costume to drum up excitement about Tomlin’s 2012-13 theme, “Be Extraordinary: Find the Hero in You.”
“I just wanted to kick off the year and motivate students in an exciting way,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan wasn’t the only one who dressed up. A slew of administrators and teachers dressed as heroes, ranging from the Incredible Hulk to the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin.
After the final bell rang, Sullivan said she was pleased with Tomlin’s first day.
“It went really well,” Sullivan said. “A little rain, but lunches flowed smoothly, sixth-graders found their way.”
A few miles away and one-and-one-half hours earlier, students at Plant City High School poured out of buses and into the middle atrium, where they sat and socialized before the first class began.
Freshman Carson Mitchell didn’t want to wake up early for her classes but was excited to see all her old friends from Tomlin.
“At first, I was scared, because it was a new thing and a new school,” Mitchell said. “But after I got (here), I realized that high school is going to be a lot of fun. I look forward to the next four years.”
Across town at Bailey Elementary, kindergartners skipped to class with their new lunch boxes, backpacks and pencil pouches in tow. Safety-patrol students opened doors for fellow students at the car rider ramp, reminding each classmate to “have a good day.”
After walking their little ones to their classrooms, an group of parents gathered for muffins and coffee at a Kleenex and Coffee breakfast to support each other during this life change. Principal Amy Zilbar greeted each parent with a smile of reassurance.
“We get to meet the new parents and comfort them,” Zilbar said. “We know that parent involvement increases student achievement. It helps get the parents involved in the school as well. A lot of times, we meet future PTA members.”
Sandra Romero and her husband, Eddie, took their only child, Savannah, to her first day of kindergarten.
“There were no tears shed today,” Sandra said. “But there were some last night. We’re glad she’s independent enough to detach herself today.”
Savannah said she looks forward to all the crafts she’ll get to make and can’t wait to help bake cookies in her classroom’s oven. She also wants to try her hand at some martial arts in the after-school karate program.
“She’s going to big-girl school now,” Eddie said. “She’ll get to meet new friends, learn new things. This is her start.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
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