It feels like it just started, but the new school year has been underway for several weeks already. Most parents and students have probably already found a comfortable morning and afternoon routine.

One of the most exciting parts for our newspaper staff is seeing all of the contributed content we start to receive from schools. It always brings a smile to our faces to see children excited in the classroom. Some of our favorite photos from this school year actually ran inside today’s paper.

There’s teachers from Whitesville Road Elementary School dressed as superheroes, LaGrange College students running up the “Adrenalator” or zip lining across a field and students at Gardner Newman getting ready for the solar eclipse all inside today’s paper.

We’re all excited that the new school year has started, but nothing is more important than getting children excited as well. It’s a proven fact that students that are excited to get back to school are more likely to do well in the classroom.

Area high schools are even giving away automobiles to keep students motivated to have good grades and attendance this year.

A lot of good things can be said about the local schools (public and private), but any conversation should start and end with the teachers. Already this year, many have gotten creative to get students excited to head back into the classroom.

Honestly, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next. We plan to continue filling the inside pages of our newspaper with photos and content from local schools, and we ask that schools continue to send in that information. It can be sent to news@lagrangenews.com or to editor Daniel Evans at Daniel.evans@lagrangenews.com.

The start to the school year has already been a fun one, and we’re sure there are a lot of other great stories and photos to come.