Depending on your point of view, you either dreaded or looked forward to the beginning of a new school year.

Given the welcome that University Park Elementary students receive, they should fall into the latter category.

As students emerged from their buses on Aug. 24 for the first day of school, Principal Jennifer Hoffner and fellow staff members continued their tradition of extending friendly greetings to help make returning to class particularly pleasant.

“Good morning! Good morning! Hi! How are you?” Hoffner called, giving hugs and referring to many students by name.

“Where’s your smile?” she asked one student, hoping to turn the child’s frown upside down.

When another told her about summer vacation, she inquired, “What beach did you go to?”

And at least one youngster had her cellphone ready to show pictures to the principal.

Hoffner’s enthusiasm was boosted by rising enrollment at her school in Monroeville for 2023-24.

“Last year, we had two kindergartens. This year, we have four,” she said. “I’m up to over 70 kindergartners. We started the pre-K, so we’ll have them here, as well.”

Her building is the site for a newly launched prekindergarten program that draws children from throughout Gateway School District.

The guess is that the University Park folks will make them feel right at home.

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