Others were eager to get back to a routine and see friends they’d missed over the summer.

Students from preschool through high school got back into the learning groove throughout the Fort Dodge Community School District on Monday’s first day of the 2025-26 academic year.

“There were a lot of mixed emotions,” said Early Childhood Center Director of Preschool Nicole Ahrens. “Some were excited and ready to start the day. Some were a little more shy and reserved — unsure of what to expect.”

For many students at the ECC, it was their first official taste of school. The staff prepared ahead of time to make the transition a little more comfortable — and comforting.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
From left, Kaitlyn Johnson, 16; Addie Mikesell, 15; and Laila Drake, 15, all of Fort Dodge, wait for their rides after the first day of school on Monday at Fort Dodge Senior High.

“The staff has done a great job of being ready for the students,” Ahrens said. “They reach out before school starts and have seen them and met them at open house.”

Ahrens heard a lot of different opinions on what the students were thinking.

“Throughout the day, I would hear kids say, ‘Oh this fun,'” Ahrens said. “Or, ‘I can’t wait to go outside and play in the park (playground).’

“Some said, ‘Wow, my school is really big.'”

• • •

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Jordan Galloway, 17, of Fort Dodge, waits for the school bus after school on Monday at Fort Dodge Senior High.

Fort Dodge Senior High had both rookies and veterans entering the building. Like their younger counterparts at the ECC, some emotions were mixed.

“Everything went smoothly,” said FDSH Principal Staci Laird. “The school comes to life on the first day — especially when everyone enters the building.”

Every year, there are goals for students, teachers and administrators alike.

“We have a building leadership team and we have set goals,” Laird said. “We are in year two of three for our literacy goals.

“Our second goal is focused around employable skills. We divide skills among our departments, teach those and give them feedback. Academics won’t be as effective if they don’t have those soft skills.”

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
From left, Heather Liska, Natalie Anderson, 16, and Mary Johnson, all of Fort Dodge, leave Fort Dodge Senior High after the first day of school on Monday.

Laird wants her staff to be a constant in their students’ lives.

“And my job is to help the staff be the best they can be,” Laird said. “We want to meet all needs in the classroom.”

• • •

Each level has different first-day feels. Most elementary students are getting back to a place they know.

“There are all kinds of different discussions among students,” said Feelhaver Principal Sara Fitzgerald. “They talk about how much older they feel, and what it’s like to move to a new grade. They like that they are more mature and have some privileges that they maybe didn’t have before.

“I think the first day went great. We had a meeting after school, troubleshooting logistical or scheduling things, but everything went smoothly.”

School time is much more than just learning. It’s also about helping kids become the best versions of themselves.

“As a district, our goal is for all students to be ready,” Fitzgerald said. “My goal for them is to teach them to advocate for themselves.

“We want them to love learning and to be able to face the world — a mix of academics and humanity.”

• • •

Superintendent Josh Porter had a busy day, traveling around the district and visiting as many schools as he could.

“It’s always interesting going to the ECC especially. The kids are a little scared,” Porter said. “The buzz around the elementary schools was that the kids were excited to be there, because the majority of them love school.

“At the middle school they were excited to see each other.”

School is about teaching and learning skills, but Porter wants the students to get much more than just an education.

“I think it’s all about the overall experience,” Porter said. “We talk about the learning and expectations and improving reading scores, but our hope is everyone also just has a great experience. That’s how I would identify a successful year.”

As students step into the classroom and begin their activities, the experience will have a very pro-Dodger feel.

“Once we start hosting home activities, you just get that comfortable feel,” Porter said. “If you go by the high school and see over 140 band members practicing, that’s what the experience is about. We host a football game on Friday night and the students and athletes love that.

“My hope is everyone loves Fort Dodge schools and they’ll have a great experience and when they get older, raise their family as Dodgers.”

• • •

Monday may have marked the first day of school, but teachers and administrators have been planning and preparing for weeks — even months.

“I think something that people don’t recognize is our teachers start preparing back in May when the (previous) school year concludes,” Ahrens said. “They figure out how they want to start the (next) year and the theme they want to use.

“They come in at the beginning of August and see how they want to welcome their kids. They want school to be a place of comfort.”

Teachers put hours and hours into the preparation before students first set foot in the hallways for a new year.

“They have a lot to get ready,” Laird said. “The checklist for teachers is endless.”

Porter knows how much the staff puts into being prepared — especially behind closed doors.

“It’s the part that no one sees,” Porter said. “All the work that the staff does to get ready is incredible. The organization and planning and meetings help to get us organized to make sure they have a great first day.

“Teachers love having the kids back. They got into teaching because they love working with them. The teachers miss their students,” he added. “They were high-fiving them and welcoming them. When you see people like Jordan Hagar (Fort Dodge police school resource officer) so excited to be walking through the halls, it shows how much our people love being around kids.”