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Catoosa County Public Schools opened for the first day of classes Thursday, including the new Heritage High School. Heritage filled with students at 8 a.m., and they soon gathered to take part in a problem-solving activity, which would introduce the students to the new building.

Wayne Ingo, head of the English department at Heritage High School said the activity went very well. “There was not one unpleasant student … everyone was being very friendly,” said Ingo.

According to Principal Ronnie Bradford, a total of 863 students attended Heritage High’s first day of school. An estimated 83 seniors, 189 juniors, 266 sophomores and 333 freshmen will now be crowding the hall for the next year.

“The Students have been stepping it up from the beginning; everything is going very smooth,” said Bradford. “We are trying a one-hour lunch; the lines are a little long, but we will figure that out.”

“We had a wonderful first period, it was as successful as we thought it would be,” said Ingo. “If the biggest problem we have today is not having outlets for some of the coke machines, it should be great.”

The students quickly began to find areas to relax and talk to friends during their lunch hour, where they discussed their new school. Sophomore, Amanda Pugsley said, “I think it’s great that it’s finally here. I also like the hour for lunch; they seem to trust us more.” Students are allowed to fill out certain areas of the high school during their lunch hour under supervision, rather then just the cafeteria area.

“It’s a great atmosphere; there are great teachers and great classes,” said sophomore Kayla Haynes.

Enrollment in other area high schools until now verged on overcrowding, but the opening of Heritage High School allows more room for the students. Sophomore Jennifer Stone said, “I like the hallways; you’re not cramped in. I love the hour lunch also, (and) we don’t have only three minutes to get to class.”

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Heritage High School dedication will be Sunday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m.

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Like any high school, Heritage is sure to have rivals from other area schools and between the different age groups of its own students. Last Thursday, students already settled into the high school atmosphere during their lunch period overheard a freshmen student’s loud exclamations. The older students explained he was a freshman.

According to Bradford the only issue right now is “very full” classes. The main challenge, he said, is to even the class enrollment numbers out.

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