The school halls in the Socorro Independent School District’s 51 campuses were full of eager students, parents and teachers on July 31 as Team SISD returned for the 2023-24 school year.
The new school year began with the inauguration of four new elementary academies - Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy, O'Shea Keleher Whole Child Academy, Sierra Vista STEAM Academy, and Vista del Sol Environmental Science Academy. Also, the much-anticipated Eastlake Middle School, the district's 51st campus, opened to serve the families and community of the fast-growing Eastlake area.
SISD Superintendent Nate Carman, Ed.D., visited the new Eastlake Middle School and other campuses across the district during the first week of school.
"From what I saw, SISD students are off to a fantastic start to the 2023-2024 school year," Dr. Carman said in an email to staff after the first day of school. "I had a great day visiting schools, greeting parents and meeting students and teachers who were excited to take on opportunities unlocked and start working toward academic excellence."
Young SISD scholars started school for the first time entering in the Pre-K programs for three and four-year-olds and kindergarten eager to meet their teachers and make new friends.
Elementary and middle school students were excited to return to their home campuses and high school freshmen entered their new schools at the district’s six comprehensive high schools and Mission Early College High School.
At the high schools, SISD students have the opportunity to be part of elite academies and early college programs.
Montwood High School senior Liliana Franco said she loves the traditions at the home of the Rams. She said she felt like she has had a real high school experience after transferring to Montwood from a school in Georgia her freshman year.
“These first few days have been pretty great, and I’m really excited to be beginning my senior year, my last year of high school, and I know it’s going to be amazing,” Franco said.
Andre Miranda, an eighth-grader at Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School, was happy to return to school to complete his final year of middle school.
“I am very excited for this new school year,” Miranda said. "I know there is a lot of growth going on here at Clarke. I feel like this is the start of something great because of our teachers and admin; we can be better together.”
Senior Maribelle Estrada at El Dorado High School said she was excited to be back at school and experience all that lays ahead for her final year of high school.
“I’m looking forward to fun events like Senior Sunset and Sunrise but also ending my high school career on a high note academically,” Estrada said.
Some parents of younger students were melancholy as they acknowledged their little ones are growing up and starting a new chapter in their lives. Many other parents were excited about what was ahead for their children, and they were happy about the many opportunities their students will have access to as part of Team SISD.
Diana Villalobos, a Mission Ridge Elementary parent, said she felt many emotions because she was both excited and nervous while dropping off her children who are in first grade and Pre-Kindergarten.
“It’s my 4-year-old’s first year at school, and the first day went way better than I thought,” Villalobos said. “I hope they will have lots of success this year, learn a lot and become more independent.”
Jennifer Escajeda walked her son, third-grader Jason Escajeda, to class at Lujan-Chavez Elementary. Jason said he was nervous about his first day of school but looked forward to seeing his friends.
“It feels good coming back,” Jennifer Escajeda said. “It’s a familiar school and familiar faces. He is going to have the same teacher that he had last year. So, he’s excited about that.”
Teachers, staff and school administrators were ecstatic and hopeful for the new school year as they welcomed their beloved students back with big smiles, happy embraces and enthusiastic high-fives.
“There was a lot of positive energy at Blazer Nation as students returned for the 2023-24 school year,” said Americas High School Principal Nancy Torres. “It’s great to see our students return. Teachers and students will be focused on working toward the same theme of ‘Better Together.’”
Melanie Tobias, an SCE intervention coach at Salvador H. Sanchez Middle School, was happy to welcome back the Warriors on their first day back from summer break.
“It was super exciting and awesome to see the kiddos return and to see the new students coming in from the elementaries looking so eager,” Tobias said. “It’s great when they recognize you and say hello. My advice is for them to have fun, try different things, enjoy the learning experience, and make a ton of new friends.”
Sgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary School Principal Jesse Sepulveda said everybody was excited to return to school.
“It’s been a really wonderful experience,” Sepulveda said. “The kids have been amazing, and so have the teachers and the parents. The day began smoothly. We’ve had almost zero problems throughout the school day. The kids are working on routines in the hallways, learning where the nurse is, learning where the playground is, so it’s been a really good first day of school.”