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Open house at Cape Hatteras Secondary signals that a new school year will soon start.

On Aug. 24, 2023, Principal Beth Rooks stood outside the secondary school’s entrance welcoming students and parents.

Starting Monday, Aug. 28, she’ll do that every day that school is in session.

Inside, students sorted themselves into middle school and high school sections and found the correct table to retrieve class schedules.

Some asked for changes. School counselors Karla Jarvis and Suzanne Jennette sat at the high school table, sorted through schedules for grades 9 through 12, and warmly greeted students. At the middle school table, counselor Heather Boan did the same for students in grades sixth through eighth grades.

Across the way, April Webster stood at the table labeled “School Bus Information.” Webster had a list of all secondary school students and the time a school bus will roll past a close-by bus stop.

After picking up schedules, students strike out to find classrooms for the first semester. If no students are visiting, teachers stand outside of classroom doors to welcome students.

Cape Hatteras senior Sherlyn Mendicta staffed a table promoting DECA and handing out applications. Sherlyn has been DECA member for four years.

It’s obvious some students are excited and ready for the new school year to start. Others are a bit anxious.

On Thursday, Aug. 24, open houses were held at all Dare County Schools, except First Flight Elementary and Middle schools. Families with students in Cape Hatteras Elementary and Secondary schools attended the elementary school open house first and then came to the secondary school. Both schools are in Buxton.

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, First Flight Elementary and First Flight Middle schools were cleared to reopen to staff on Wednesday, Aug. 23 with exception one room in each building. Those two rooms were to be cleaned overnight and retested on Wednesday.

Dare County Department of Health and Human Services staffers visited both campuses Tuesday morning to identify any areas of concerns. The department offered three suggestions: replacing a ceiling tile, cleaning ceiling returns in the higher ceilings, and monitoring rust on air vents.

Dare County Schools maintenance staff addressed these suggestions.

Back in Buxton, the Cape Hatteras Secondary campus was busy. In the campus gymnasium, Cape Hatteras was hosting a volleyball match with First Flight High School. A note to Cape Hatteras sports fans. The Atlantic Five Conference has raised ticket prices this year. Adult tickets are $7 and student tickets are $6.

In the campus auditorium, the Bryan Cultural Series brought its Surf and Sounds Chamber Music Series to Hatteras Island. A strings trio played pieces by Beethoven and Ravel. This was the ninth year for the free August concert.

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