Tick-tock. On a humid early Friday morning, the school parking lot is filled with kids, parents and potential new friends waiting with bated breath for the ring of the school bell as the clock strikes 8:35 a.m.

Marking its start in the 2025-2026 school year, Woodridge Elementary School on Budlong Road opened its doors for new and returning students.

For the newcomers, it was a big step into the unknown. Some felt a bit scared to take that leap, noticeable in the way that a few kids clung to the arms and legs of their loved ones, hoping to avoid going in.

For others, it was a new adventure. With big smiles a tight hug goodbye and an energetic high-five to the school’s mascot, known as “Mr. Wizard,” some students walked through Woodridge’s open doors ready for another chapter in their elementary school careers.

As the school year dawned, students all over Cranston set off on a new journey full of learning, new friends and the inevitable anticipation of summer’s return. But for now, they’ve only just begun.