Video: Joyner Elementary Students Return To Newly Remodeled School

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Thousands of students begin a new school year this week throughout our viewing area. In Tupelo, classes started today and as WCBI’s Allie Martin reports, the start of the new year was extra special for students and teachers at Joyner Elementary.

This first day of school for Joyner Elementary Principal Kimberly Foster is significant.

“We are so thankful to have all of our staff and students back on the exact same campus,” Foster said.

April 28th was the last day all students, faculty and staff were at the Joyner campus. The threat of bad weather meant school dismissed early. That afternoon, a tornado hit the historic school, causing massive damage to the kindergarten wing.

In fact, the damage was so bad, kindergartners spent the rest of the year at Church Street School and through the summer, construction workers were on the job.

“We have new roof, new floors, new paint on the walls, we have new furniture,” Principal Foster said.

The excitement is shared by teachers .

“The kids have come back, that were in my class last year want to peek in my room, they think it’s a totally different classroom,” remarked Brenna Politte, a kindergarten teacher.

For Politte, the post storm renovations represent a fresh start, and she will never forget the help and assistance the school received from friends and strangers.

“It wasn’t just Joyner pulling this together, it’s been other schools helping us out in the district and other districts as well and churches have brought us help, it’s just amazing to see our community come together the way that it has,” Politte said.

Students are also pumped about the renovations.

What do you think about the school and all the new colors and everything?

“It’s good,” said Ocean Ivy, a first grader.

“I like the classrooms,” said Katherine Gillon, also a first grader.

“The school looks good,” said First Grader Kaden Satterwhite.

So as nearly 400 students begin a new school year, they have a solid sense of what “Tupelo Strong” really means.

Repairs to Joyner Elementary School topped more than $2,000,000.