Students returned for the 2015-2016 school year in Chapman USD 473 on Thursday for a half day of school.

Lacee Sell, Superintendent said that the first day went,”absolutely perfect, it was almost like we didn’t even have a break.”

“Things have just become so routine, and that’s so helpful when you have the same consistent families year after year, as well as, principals and district director.”

At the end of Thursday the district had 1,122 students enrolled, including the three pre-schools within the district. That is up from around 1,070 last year. Sell did say that this years kindergarten class is larger than years past.

“Our kindergarten class is right at 108 students, and that’s going to be one of our largest class sizes next to our sophomores that I believe are at 106.”

This year the district did bring in 13 new teachers across the district, and a new principal at Chapman Elementary School, David Warner.

“We had to hire two new positions in regards to our class sizes. Just last Friday, as a matter of fact, we hired a third kindergarten teacher at Chapman Elementary. We have 58 students in kindergarten, so we needed to hire a third teacher to separate and lower those class sizes.”

Fall sports practices will begin on Monday, August 17th and the first day of classes for the Wee Lads and Lasses pre-school will be held on Monday, August 24th.