School bells ring, signaling first day

Excitement filled the air as students at all seven Long Beach schools entered their new classrooms on the first day of school, ready for another year of learning. Not only did they meet new teachers, but they will also be introduced to some new and expanded educational programs and other features.

There will be more SmartBoards and other new technology in use in classrooms throughout the district. At the elementary level, the Foreign Language in Elementary School program, or FLES, has been expanded to teach Spanish to all children in kindergarten through grade 3. At the middle school, a new enrichment program for all sixth-graders has been introduced, and the Learning Activities to Raise Creativity program for the gifted and talented, known as LARC, has been extended through grade 6.

This year, a college-level course in economics will be added to the list of 31 A.P. and college-level courses that are currently offered at Long Beach High School. The school is also in Stage B of the application process to become an International Baccalaureate World School. Boys' and girls' varsity badminton will be added to the sports lineup this year at the high school, giving even more students an opportunity to participate in the athletics program.