Panther Valley school officials are encouraged by the start of the new school year.

Principals provided updates during Thursday’s school board meeting, giving credit to faculty and staff for a successful start to the school year.

“It takes a village to raise these kids, and I think we’re all working extremely hard to make sure we provide the best for these students, and I think they see it,” said Patti Ebbert, principal of Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School.

Students who are attending in person spent the first couple days navigating their classes, and the new Chromebook laptops which the district purchased for every student.

Panther Valley Elementary School Principal Robert Palazzo said nearly every student is logged in to the online program, and they are developing the program based on lessons in the first week.

“It really was a great start, I can’t thank everyone enough at my building. I was super proud at the end of the day,” Palazzo said.

Intermediate school Principal Lisa Mace said that all but about 10 students have returned the necessary forms to receive their Chromebook laptops.

She said after the first day challenges of making sure students find their homerooms and afternoon buses, Wednesday and Thursday have gone well.

Mace said 57 students have enrolled in the last week, with 19 coming on Wednesday. She said the office staff has been key to handling those demands.

Ebbert credited her office staff as well.

She said that while restrictions prevented her from gathering the entire student body for an introduction, she has introduced herself to each class, and shared the expectations for behavior for the coming year.

Director of Special Education Tammy Chrin said her team has done well making adjustments to meet compliance with Department of Education regulations, including providing extra support for students because of the amount of instruction time lost since March.

The principals said they are working together to share ideas for the new school year.

“I appreciate my colleagues, we bounce ideas and they have been very supportive,” Mace said.