Singleton can't resist longtime role

Monday's immaculate weather on the first day of school helped lure Jim Singleton out of retirement for a day.

"In 30 years of doing this, I never had a day like this," Singleton exclaimed as he helped children exit their vehicles at Gulf Breeze Elementary School, where he served as a physical education teacher and official car-line "greeter" for parts of three generations.

"It's either been broiling hot or raining . . . never anything like this!"

Clear, blue skies, invigorating temperatures in the high 60s and remarkably low humidity made Monday the perfect day to start a new school year. Within an area of just over one city block, students poured into Gulf Breeze Elementary, Middle and High schools to continue education's yearly cycle.

GBES students and many parents were surprised to see Singleton in his familiar role as car-line greeter. He retired in May after three decades at the school. However, most folks agree that school at GBES just wouldn't be the same without Singleton to welcome the children, some of whom were customarily spooked by his loud, baritone voice and outgoing personality.

Singleton might have been back on a voluntary basis for one day, but other instructors were digging in for the long haul. Amidst the frenzy, a female teacher approached the front entrance with her hands and arms full of books and materials.

"Just 179 more days to go!" she declared optimistically.

Of the 784 students registered at GBES, 764 were present and accounted for on Day 1.

"It's not uncommon to have 2 to 3 percent absent on the first day," new Principal Warren Stevens said. "I would be surprised if we do not have above 770 sometime this week."

New Assistant Principal Buddy Powell shared the greeter's role with Singleton. Powell came to GBES from Milton High in July. He recognized former students as parents bringing their children to school for the first time.

Powell said the goal Monday was simple.

"We want to get'em here, feed 'em, and get 'em home safely," he said.

Stevens said the first day went "extremely well."

"We had a high turnout for orientation last week, so the majority of questions or problems were answered then," Stevens stated. "A very dedicated group of teachers and staff helped get us started on the right track. They worked long hours last week getting ready, and the result was a large group of happy children."

At Gulf Breeze High, about 20 members of the Class of 2010 arrived on a Seville Quarter bus after the entertainment complex's antique fire truck refused to crank. Dressed in Mexican sombreros and other attire, the "Señ10rs" paraded around the bus and posed for pictures in the front parking lot.

The student count at GBHS was 1,530; there are 1,575 students enrolled.

"We had just over 40 noshows," Principal Sylvan Ladner said. "We had no evidence of any absenteeism due to flu. We had a few parents call saying that their students would be absent because of surgeries, and one or two had excused absences due to other reasons.

"We feel like the students were glad to be back."

Oriole Beach Elementary Principal Dawn Alt reported that 753 students attended the first day of school, eight fewer than the enrollment numbers. OBE recently added a couple of new teachers to meet class-size requirments.

"We had a great first day," Alt said. "The children were excited to be here, and everything went really smoothly."

At Woodlawn Beach Middle School, 980 students flowed into the school, which just opened a new wing of classrooms. Principal Victor Lowrimore said projections call for 1,007 students at the Midway school.

"We are still enrolling students," Lowrimore said. "I'm confident we will get to 1,007 in the next week or two.

"We had a very good first day. Our students came right in as if we had never stopped. It went very smoothly."

At Holley-Navarre Primary School, a county school bus with two students on board backed into a parked car. There were no injuries, and damage to the car was minimal.

¦ GBN staff writer Scott Page contributed to this story.