The school year began with all sunny skies in Cranston on Tuesday morning, as faculty, staff, families and students began the new school year, saying good-bye to another summer. It was the first post-Labor Day start in quite some time, allowing students to sleep in for one more week this year, and giving teachers an extra week to get their classrooms ready for the first days of school prior to the official staff start day last week. In the Cranston Public Schools, three high schools, four middle schools and 16 elementary schools opened their doors and welcomed back their students to a new year. Faculty members, administrators and school staff helped to greet the students at each school, shaking hands, reassuring parents and students alike, and helping to iron out any minor bumps in the road that may have taken place on the first day. By 9 a.m., the crowds had receded, the doors were closed and the new school year was now underway.

“The schools seem to have successfully opened in Cranston,” Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse wrote in an e-mail Tuesday morning. “We always have a few glitches with transportation on the first day or so, (as do most districts) but overall, things went very well this morning. During the day, we will address and try to resolve whatever issues arose this morning. 

“[Assistant Superintendent] Norma [Cole] and I visited several schools and the principals and kids were happy and excited to start a new year. Things may be different at the end of the day, but let's hope we keep this going well.