WEST CHESTER TWP. — When 6-year-old Megan Qua got off the school bus Tuesday at Union Elementary School, her eyes grew big.

        Clutching a school supply box in one hand and her backpack in the other, the first-grader cautiously stepped onto red carpeting outside the school's side door and slowly made her way through two 6-foot arches made of red and black balloons. A medley of peppy music blared from a portable boom box.

First-grade teacher Dolores Bates talks with Allison Kastrup, 6, during a tour of the school for first-graders at Union Elementary School in West Chester Township on Tuesday. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        “I'm kind of surprised,” Megan said. “It's kind of nice. It has balloons and a little pathway.”

        Megan was one of nearly 250 first- and second-grade students who entered the 600-pupil school through the arches on their first day of classes. The Rolling Out the Red Carpet celebration had teachers, Principal Bob Winterberger and Assistant Principal Gerri Bollin greeting students on each of 12 buses. The arch was the idea of first-grade teacher Amy Boucher-Castro.

        “I think it's going to get them so excited, especially the younger ones,” said Ms. Boucher-Castro. “It's a different and fun way to start school. We want them to think, "Wow, this is really cool.”'

        Parent Terry Tuznik couldn't resist posing her children Katie, 8, and Ricky, 6, to take first-day-of-school photos.

        Tuesday was the first day of school for students in the Lakota, Mason, Goshen and Mariemont schools. Most students in Greater Cincinnati's public schools are now in session. Those in Clermont County's Bethel-Tate Local Schools will head back to the classrooms Monday.

        “Things seemed pretty quiet today,” said Jon Weid lich, Lakota's spokesman. “With the later start this year, people were ready to be back in school — both students and teachers.”

        First-day enrollment at Lakota was 15,908, a 432-pupil increase over last year's official count, ensuring its spot as Greater Cincinnati's second-largest school district, behind Cincinnati Public, and Ohio's eighth-largest.

        In Mason, first-day enrollment was 8,107, surpassing 8,000 for the first time. in the district's history. Enrollment is up 744 students — or 10.1 percent.

        Enquirer reporter Erica Solvig contributed to this report.

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