Ice cream social starts school year off right

HURON — Here's the scoop on a back-to-school ice cream social hosted by a local district, which got kids ready for school. On Aug. 18 — six days before classes actually started on Monday — many younger students enrolled in Huron Schools and their families gathered at the Huron Boat Basin property for the annual event. The ice cream social serves to celebrate the upcoming school year and give youth the opportunity to connect with classmates, educators and school staff. "It cultivates community and connections between peers in the grade level but also families," Woodlands Elementary principal Brian Kucbel said. "It also starts building that connection with the school and ramping it up for a successful school year." Each year at the ice cream social, younger students get to see their class lists and figure out their homeroom teachers. They can also find out who's joining them in that specific homeroom. Among those attending: parent Megan Hill, who came with her young daughters, Annie and Emma. While the young girls enjoyed the ice cream, Megan also appreciated how her kids got a chance to familiarize themselves with faces, mainly teachers and classmates, before a new school year started. The event also featured performances by the high school's cheer squad and marching band. School administrators then served ice cream. "What I enjoy most about tonight is seeing smiles on the kids' faces," Kucbel said. "It's time to get excited. It's time to get happy. Let's make it a great year."