Mat-Su schools welcome students grades 1-12 back to the classroom

PALMER, Alaska (KTUU) - The sun was still relatively low on the horizon Thursday morning as Colony High School students trickled their way back into the building, greeted by teachers and staff as a speaker played music in the main hall of the building.

Large groups of teenagers began pouring in as buses arrived around 7:15 a.m. Friends who haven’t seen each other all summer hugged in the halls before hurrying off together to hit up their lockers and settle into first period.

It’s Kristy Johnston’s second year as principal at Colony, but she’s the longest-standing staff member, having started in 1997.

Despite her tenure, she still gets first-day jitters.

“I’ve been up since like 3 o’clock this morning thinking of all the things,” Johnston said. “I’m not gonna lie, I leaned over a couple of times and sent an email to my admin staff just to say, ‘Do we have this? Are we prepared? Are we ready?’”

Not surprisingly, her staff didn’t respond until normal waking hours, but assured her that the school was ready to open its doors for the first day of the 2024-25 school year.

Incoming freshmen Addison Corbin and McKenna Kruger lit up when they saw each other. Corbin waited patiently on a bench for Kruger to walk through the doors. They attended Colony Middle School together and admitted some nerves going into high school.

“I think I’m going to get lost or not remember my class,” Corbin said smiling.

To help ease any apprehension, the two friends do have fifth period together, but both admitted they were already looking forward to graduation.

While schools within the Anchorage School District are rolling out a new schedule for its students, it’s business as usual in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

MSBSD Superintendent Randy Trani said some minor changes have been made at some schools because of construction, but otherwise school start times will remain the same.

“As educators, we’re all aware of those studies that have been just building over time — that our high school students, they do better when they start later — but there are no plans [to make changes] at all,” Trani said.

Trani was sporting a green tie Thursday morning, the official color of the Colony Knights.

“Sometimes I’ll actually put multiple-colored ties in my car, so when I go from school to school I don’t get any flack,” Trani laughed.

It was a little less nervous — and a lot more excitement — at Pioneer Peak Elementary School, as children in grades 1-5 showed up with their parents or grandparents in tow.

Kristina Wilson, a second-grade teacher at Pioneer Peak, was putting the final touches on her classroom before her students arrived.

She said the energy of the first day of school at the elementary level is unmatched.

“This is the most exciting place to be, because that excitement doesn’t end and it’s there all day,” Wilson said. “We’re just excited to meet the students, get to know them, build those relationships, and just have fun.”

Pioneer Peak Principal Josie Schubert stood out in front of the school, while music played through a speaker and inflatable tube man seemingly danced along next to the front doors. The staff set up the entryway to have bubble machines and even created a photo opportunity area on the side lawn.

It’s a special year for fifth grader Aiden Bleth — who couldn’t be more excited to be back at school — as it’s his last year of elementary school before he moves up to Colony Middle School next year.

But he said Pioneer Peak has been good to him.

“It’s awesome, everybody’s so kind,” Bleth said. “I know it’s gonna be a great year.”

At only 10 years old, Bleth already has a life plan. He might attend college to obtain his degree in criminal justice, but he’s certain about a career in law enforcement, saying after he attends a police academy he might serve as an Alaska State Trooper for a couple of years before exploring the security sector in Hawaii.

“Then [after] a couple years, I’ll retire and I’ll enjoy a happy life with my kids,” Bleth said with unwavering confidence.

His little brother Conner also attends Pioneer Peak. He’s going into third grade this year.

“I’m feeling pretty good on this,” Conner said. “I know the teacher and I just feel like I’m going to have a good year.”

Conner’s favorite subject is math and he said he’s looking forward to learning division this year, but admitted he’s a little apprehensive about this being his older brother’s last year attending the same school as him.

“I’m nervous [about] when he goes to middle school and I’m gonna be alone at Pioneer Peak,” Conner said.

Bleth comforted his brother at that moment by telling him that he would do great.

While grades 1-12 districtwide welcomed students back to school Thursday morning, preschool and kindergarten students still have one more week before their instruction begins Aug. 22.

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