SAN ANTONIO – The new school year may have gotten off to a wet start Monday, but that didn't damper the excitement for students at Cole Elementary.
Aric and Dominic Powell said they were excited about their new school, especially because the campus has a space theme.
"I like seeing the hot sun and the moon," Dominic said.
Because the school mascot is the Explorers, Principal Tod Kuenning had the library designed with a space theme so that students can always come in and explore their imagination.
"Science is a big part of everything that we do," Kuenning said. "We have a wonderful, big science lab that the kids will be able to do their experiments with. We have an outdoor garden area, so we are doing everything we can to make sure they grow in the area of science."
Also on hand for the first day of school was the school's namesake, Bennie Cole, a longtime volunteer and former Northside Independent School District school board member.
Cole shook hands and took pictures with students as they walked into their new school for the first time.
"Mr. Cole, himself, came and helped us develop our mission statement, and his first sentiment was, 'Kids are always first,'" Kuenning said.
Some parents said they are already noticing the mission statement in the staff.
"With the school and the teachers we've met so far, I think it's going to be outstanding for her," Callis said of her kindergartner.