.png)
Eager and anxious anticipation as Juneau’s first day of 2026-27 school year arrives
- Mark Sabbatini
- 42 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Some students return to familiar spaces and friends, others start classes in new buildings with new peers
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
Mara Stedman and Andie Reid, both 14, had different feelings of anticipation as they approached Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé to begin their freshman year on Thursday morning.
"I think it's a good thing," Stedman said. "I got to see all my friends, and I get to go to different classes, and do volleyball, and get to know people."
Reid, on the other hand, was a bit more hesitant about what lies ahead.
"I’m just scared," Reid said.
But Reid also said she’s looking forward to joining the dance team and, when asked about her goals this year, answered "probably staying on top of my grades and just finding a core group of friends."
The 2026-27 school year began Thursday for what is projected to be nearly 3,800 students in the Juneau School District. The first day of school is traditionally a day for mixed feelings among students and also a day for a mix of traditions.
Among the traditions is a Wisdom Day welcoming for the Montessori Borealis program, now located at Dzantik'i Heeni campus for its third year along with Yaakoosgé Daakahídi High School and Juneau Community Charter School. Students and teachers clustered outside the front of the school, in assigned groups named after constellations, as Scott Jonsson introduced himself as the new principal of Montessori Borealis and YDHS.
"I feel so welcome here," he told the crowd. "I just see so many smiling faces. I see a lot of students who are excited about their education. I’m excited that everybody’s here on the first day — students and families and parents. So I’m looking forward to a fantastic year, and we are going to do an excellent job learning, growing, teaching and loving."
Still, some students said they wouldn’t mind still being on summer break.
"I just like personally like sleeping and being in my bed," said Greyson Stogner, 12, an eighth-grade student at Montessori Borealis.
The first day of school has its own vibe "and then like the next eight months are just gonna be rough," said Erroll Culbreth, 14, also in eighth grade at Montessori Borealis, waiting with Stogner and other friends outside school for Wisdom Day activities to begin.
Walking to Thunder Mountain Middle School with a group of three friends shortly before classes began was Georgina Honor, 12, who was among those with mixed feelings.
"There’s a lot of things that can go wrong, but then again there’s a lot of things that can go well," she said.
When asked about her hopes for the year ahead, Honor said "probably make a new friend and get better grades."
Greeting students as they were dropped off by buses and parents at Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary School was Rose Rice, a paraeducator for the district for the past five years. For her the first day of school is an upbeat occasion.
"I am so excited to listen to everything that the kids have done over the summer and just get to refresh on what they've done," she said. "I really miss them. It was so much fun being with them last year and there’s just joy to be kids. I love their energy."
When asked what she’s looking forward to this year, Rice said the school’s soup day that takes place in early fall.
"We just harvest our garden — all the kids put effort into planting in the garden last spring — and they get to harvest from the garden and then they all get to collectively make soup in their classrooms together," she said.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
