New Year, New Storm Shelter, Same Cub Pride

The alarm clocks rang a little earlier, backpacks felt a little heavier, and the hallways came roaring back to life as Olney ISD welcomed students for the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Across the district, the morning brought the usual mixture of excitement, nerves and carefully posed firstday photographs.

At Olney Elementary School, the district’s smallest Cubs arrived clutching new backpacks—and, in a few cases, a parent’s hand. Teachers greeted returning students and welcomed new pupils learning where to stow their backpacks, find the cafeteria, and begin their first Olney school adventure.

At Olney Junior High, students began the year beside one of the district’s most significant construction projects. Work is nearing completion on the new $8.3 million storm shelter, which will provide additional instructional space and a hardened refuge for students and staff during severe weather.

Across the way, the Class of 2027 arrived for its final first day at Olney High School.

The seniors took part in the traditional activities that mark their long-awaited rise to the top of the campus pecking order - street painting and the senior sunrise ceremony. After years of watching older classes celebrate, this year’s seniors finally got their turn to pose for photographs, show off their class spirit and begin a year filled with “lasts”—the last first day, the last football season, the last homecoming and, eventually, the walk across the graduation stage.

Between the excited elementary pupils, newly promoted junior high students and confident seniors, every stage of school life was represented across the Olney ISD campus.

Just like that, summer vacation was over and another year of learning, growing and making memories had begun.

Welcome back, Cubs—and Class of 2027, enjoy every minute. This year belongs to you.