St. Croix schools came alive Wednesday morning as faculty, staff, and students returned for the first day of classes, filling campuses with the familiar mix of anticipation, first-day jitters, and fresh starts.
At Claude O. Markoe Elementary School, parents escorted their children through the gates, many carrying small bins packed with school supplies. One parent, Sash Ogarro, said she was eager to see the children return after the long summer break.
Just outside the school, Reverend Lorenzo H. Davis and his wife, Buelle Davis, from the Frederiksted Wesleyan Holiness Church, Inc., offered prayers for the students.
“This is our first time here as a couple, but in the past, other churches have come to the schools to pray for the children,” Davis said. “It takes a village to raise a child, and that still stands. Part of the reason for the village is prayer, because prayer is important. It’s been important in our lives, and we believe it’s still important today. Even though there is a separation of church and state, we believe that prayer is important — it covers and gives you a different perspective on your day when you start with prayer.”
At St. Croix Central High School, Principal Chermaine Hobson-Johnson described the morning as “very cliché” but exciting.
“We are very happy to have them back,” she said. “We are also happy to have them so they can graduate and move on to begin their careers. That is the difference between high school and elementary — in high school, you are molding them to prepare for their careers and whatever else they have planned for their future. It’s a different energy at the high school level.”
Across the island at the Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School, the territory’s youngest learners were settling in for a year of discovery. In Astral Battiste’s kindergarten class, a wall of Bluey decorations welcomed students. Battiste, voted the territory’s Teacher of the Year in 2024, marked her 20th year in the classroom by putting students to work right away on a coloring exercise. Next door, Janice Hendricks introduced her kindergarteners to the basics of pencil etiquette: writing is encouraged; poking is frowned upon.
At the St. Croix Educational Complex, the year began with the unveiling of a new “I ❤️ SCEC” sculpture. After the final bell rang shortly after 1 p.m., Assistant Principal Erick Willie said the day had gone smoothly.
For St. Croix Insular Superintendent Carla Bastian, the morning’s scenes reflected the heart of the district’s mission.
“The first day of school in the St. Croix District was filled with energy, anticipation, and the unmistakable joy that comes with new beginnings,” Bastian said. “From the buses rolling into school yards, parents walking their children to the gates, and classrooms, the district came alive with a new year of opportunities for excellence.”
She praised principals, teachers, and staff for setting a welcoming tone and acknowledged the district’s continued focus on high expectations, academic growth, and improved attendance.
“Despite the infrastructure challenges as we approached the new school year, and those that remain, I am proud of the collective effort from educators, families, and community partners who made this opening day a success,” she said. “The St. Croix District is committed to building on this strong start, ensuring that every day this school year is an opportunity for growth, achievement, and the celebration of our students’ potential.”
