School Daze

Phone bans, use of AI in classroom work, shooter drills, ICE agents entering schools:  welcome to the school year 2025-26. 

On the nostalgic side of things, this ol' gal who graduated from Sandpoint High School 60 years ago in 1965 made it to the road in time, after chores, to capture her annual "first day of school" bus photos. 

I hadn't been on the road for even a minute when, first, I had a lightning fast visit with my classmate Gary Finny in his white pickup and sent him on his way so I could take yellow school bus photos. 

The bus driver gave me a big wave as the bus headed on past me for its destination at one of the Lake Pend Oreille schools. 

Earlier, while watering, I sent a good-luck note to Willie, Will, Dr. Love, Coach Love (it's all perspective in what he is called). 

Willie (always Willie to Mom) thinks he's beginning his 16th year at Sandpoint High School.  That means the Young Loves have been living back in his hometown for that long. 

He wrote back, "Thank you. Excited to be back at it." 

And, so another school year begins, and most of the summer fun ends in favor of fall sports. 

Good luck to students, educators and staff as all do their best to keep a positive and safe environment for "teaching the children." 

Each new school year gives us a sense of hope for better times ahead. 

While on the subject of schools, I read the following Q and A in today's New York Times morning newsletter:  

Schools where I live seem to be starting earlier these days than when I attended. Is this a nationwide trend? If so, why? | Kristen Gast, Sacramento

Troy: You’re not dreaming. The first day of school used to be a post-Labor Day tradition across the country. 

That changed over the past few decades, leaving a confusing mash-up of start dates through the summer months. 

Some kids in Arizona have been back in school since mid-July, while some New Jersey students don’t start until Thursday. 

A recent analysis by the  Pew Research Center  shows school tends to start earlier in the South.

Pack River swimming hole was pretty busy yesterday for the last day before a new school year. 

Of course, the heat wave we've been experiencing this week more than likely prompted the need to splash around in the water one more time.

Bill spent his hot Labor Day afternoon fishing at Grouse Creek, while I, with shades drawn and curtains closed, peeled apples and cooked up a second batch of applesauce for the winter. 

It's tasty stuff, especially when refrigerated. Now, I have to find more apples to peel. We love the applesauce, and the horses love the peelings. 

 

Just a few photos here from our Sunday trip, which took us to Canada and then the Moyie River. 

Today I have a class reunion committee meeting.  We are in our final few weeks of planning for our 60th later this month. 

When we graduated from high school in 1965, the motto in the yearbook said, "WE WERE HERE."

Today and during all living, breathing days forward, we'll rejoice with "WE ARE STILL HERE." 

Happy Tuesday. 

The item below was in today's Bonner County History briefs from 75 years ago.  

TRAFFIC LIGHTS INDICATE GROWTH

The stop-and-go traffic lights arrived and will be installed immediately, one unit at the Cedar and Second avenue intersection, the second at Cedar and Fifth. The blinking amber-colored light that was at Cedar and Fifth will be moved to First and Pine. 

Here's a quiz for the first day of a new school year.  How many traffic lights does Sandpoint now have, and where are they located?