Blackfoot takes different approach to first day of school.

Elementary school students in the Blackfoot area had a completely different first day of school this year. Students were greeted by high school athletes and their parents forming a tunnel and cheering them on as they walked to the front doors of school.

Teachers performed skits for the students and offered other activities to boost morale in an attempt to get the kids off to a great school year.

“So they cheered our kids on as they came to school, we played music, the kids were able to visit and just have a really fun time,” Stoddard Elementary School Principal Christine Silzly said. “Parents were invited. They helped as the kids went through a tunnel. It was just a really fun celebration.”

Blackfoot High School football player, Nate Gregersen agreed it was fun. “I wish they would have had something like that when I was in (elementary) school ’cause it was really fun,” he said.

Stoddard Elementary school teacher, Melissa Hunt attended the Ron Clark Academy over the summer, and learned that unity in the district would be a great benefit to the students.