Sorry, kids!

Summer vacation is soon coming to an end — for some, it ended this morning as administrators and faculty prepare for the 2024-25 school year.

The first students to return to class are at the East Lycoming School District — their school year started today.

East Lycoming, like some of the other districts, had undergone some changes over the summer months, with renovation projects on some of their buildings.

Ashkar Elementary students returned to classrooms with new furniture and new air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, according to an update from Superintendent Mark Stamm.

Junior and senior high students at East Lycoming walked “into a repainted building, themed wall murals, a remodeled library and updated classrooms,” Stamm wrote in the district’s newsletter.

An open house for the high school is scheduled for Sept. 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

As always, drivers are reminded to watch out for children walking to school and also for students entering and exiting school buses. If a bus’s lights are flashing red, oncoming cars must stop.

Last year, the East Lycoming School District added stop arm cameras to buses to monitor and report drivers who are not stopping when the buses flashing lights are activated. Drivers found in violation will be fined appropriately.

For students in the Williamsport Area School District, classes don’t begin until Aug. 26, although the district has been busy organizing open houses for the various buildings and holding new teacher inductions.

Williamsport is expecting about 4.900 students to be coming through the doors of their buildings this year, which is about the same amount as last year, according to Superintendent Dr. Timothy S. Bowers.

Bowers shared that all staff positions have been filled.

He encouraged parents to “stay informed of what’s happening in their buildings through our website and social media channels” and to “communicate with their school if they have any questions.”

“We always say that parent involvement is key to a child’s education and to ensure their success as they move up through their years here at WASD,” Bowers said.

The schedules for open houses at the Williamsport schools are: Curtin Intermediate, today from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; Cochran and Hepburn-Lycoming primary, tomorrow from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; and the Williamsport Area High School, new students, 7 p.m. and upperclassmen, 7:30 p.m., also tomorrow.

Open houses at Lycoming Valley were delayed until Sept. 17 because of construction at the building. Fourth grade students are scheduled for 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and fifth and sixth grade students at 6:45 to 7 p.m.

Because of flood damage from Hurricane Debby, Jackson Primary had to move its open house back to Sept. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

All kindergarten students in the district report on Aug. 26 at the staggered times sent to their parents. Students come the first two days in phases with half of a class one day and half the next. All students come to class on the third day.

Other districts returning to classes this week include Jersey Shore Area, Montoursville Area and Montgomery Area. tomorrow. South Williamsport and Muncy students return the day after Labor Day, Sept. 3.

Muncy will have seventh grade and new student orientation at 3 p.m. Aug. 26 followed by an open house at the high school at 4 p.m. There will be a back-to-school open house on Aug. 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Ward L. Myers Elementary School.