School year begins for Daddy's little girl and 61,000 other Volusia County students

Ray Catheline with daughter Olivia of NSB on 1st day of school / Headline Surfer®Misty Burris Catheline of NSB with daughter Olivia 1st day of school / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® / New Smyrna Beach residents Ray and Misty Burris Catheline, pose for snapshots with daughter, Olivia, who started kindergarten at the Burns Sci-Tech School .
 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Daddy's little girl returned to school Monday along with about 61,000 other Volusia County students.

It was the day of school for Ray Catheline's little princess, Olivia, who entered kindergarten at the Buns Sci-Tech Charter School in Oak Hill. Big brother, Nicholas entered second grade.

Misty Burris Catheline took one final snapshot of the kids at home in New Smyrna Beach before the drive to Oak Hill and a couple more photos with father and the children in their respective classes.

"(We're) missing our babies, but we have a little downtime now," the proud mom lamented.

"(We're) missing our babies, but we have a little downtime now," the proud mom lamented.

Catheline children get ready for first day of school / Headline Surfer®Nicholas and Olivia Catheline stand ready in their New Smyrna Beach home for the first day of school.
 

Enrollment prior to the first day was 54,844, but the number will increase daily, with anticipation of 61,482 students for the school year, Volusia County school district spokeswoman Nancy Wait said.

And so the school year began for thousands of families throughout Central Florida in Volusia, Osceola, Orange, Lake, Flagler, Brevard and Marion counties.

Seminole County Schools started Aug.  8, and Sumter County Schools the day before that.

Volusia County School District Notes:

• The Volusia County School Board will meet 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the DeLand Administrative Complex, 200 N. Clara Avenue, DeLand.

• The School District of Volusia County and FUTURES Foundation named Troy Bradley, a campus advisor at Southwestern Middle School, as the 2014 Superintendent’s Outstanding Achievement Recognition winner.

Bradley has been a campus advisor for more than 19 years. Last year, he organized a Boyz to Men Breakfast Club Program, inviting guest speakers, mentors and former students to speak with Southwestern Middle males about the importance of education. He also volunteers as a math tutor for students in the Early Bird Tutoring Program.

“Mr. Bradley truly leads by example,” stated Principal Mamie Oatis in a letter of recommendation. “Guided by the philosophy that everyone strives to greater heights, Troy Bradley in his own quiet manner, searches for every chance to help students reach their goals.”