CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

First Day of School

Harbor View’s largest student body in recent years arrived at school Tuesday morning for the first day of the new year. Camera-toting parents escorted them to class, then gathered in the school’s multi-purpose room for coffee and volunteer sign-ups.

“I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited about the first day of school,” said Principal Charlene Metoyer. “The first day has been wonderful. The children are happy, the parents are happy and the teachers are happy.”

The school has 460 students enrolled this year, she said, along with 32 preschoolers, but the school is down one teacher because of district cuts.

Students posed for photos in front of classrooms, met new teachers and hugged old friends. As they began the school day, about 100 parents gathered for coffee and information about school volunteer opportunities.

“This year is the best turnout ever for a back-to-school coffee,” said Jan Parker, the Parent Faculty Organization president. “We’re getting lots of signups, and there’s lots of energy.”

At Corona del Mar Middle School and High School, long traffic lines had formed by 7:15 a.m. for the first-day drop off.