Happy New Year in September

Students head back to school

It’s the first day of school in Arlington, Aug. 25, 2025. Some students bound off the bus and head down the sidewalk while others hesitate on the last step of the bus, peering around the sliding doors looking for the monsters under the bed. 

At Discovery Elementary, Irish Castillo has arrived at 8 am and sits in bus 165 at the end of the driveway awaiting the elementary school bus arrivals.  This is her first day as ACPS  bus supervisor after working 22 years as a driver. “I am here early to make sure everything runs smoothly. I’m here in case somebody needs help on one of the routes.”

Castillo says she has observed over time that traffic is worse, and students are less personable. “We live in a faster world, and, well, kids find it harder to connect. We become out of their groove quickly.”

As it gets closer to the time for the arrival of the buses for the beginning of the first day of school, several teachers line up along the sidewalk to welcome students with a “Happy New Year.”

Mary Sophie Filicetti, Director of Orientation and Mobility for Arlington County Schools, says she teaches blind and visually impaired students to access their environment. She goes from school to school assisting 18 students in 16 programs. Today she is at Discovery standing along the sidewalk waiting to assist a nine-year-old blind student to work out his new arrival route and find the best way that he will learn over time.

Students emerge from the bus decked out in the new shorts and dresses and sneakers and carrying school supplies, some holding hands with younger siblings. Some stand around gazing at their surroundings or looking for friends while others join the group racing toward their classrooms. They are pondering the happy new year as they leave summer behind. 

Arlington County Public Schools

24 elementary schools

4 high schools

1 secondary institution

4 other educational programs

27,508 K-12 students

Student-teacher ratio 1-13