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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Students return to class

By Azra Baig, Special Writer
Students in the district returned to the academic routine Thursday morning.
About 9,000 children walked, drove, were dropped off, or took the bus to their local schools as the new academic year began.
At one bus stop on Princeton Walk Boulevard in Monmouth Junction, about 30 students and their parents waited expectedly for the school bus to Cambridge Elementary School.
For many, it was their first day of Kindergarten.
"I feel very overwhelmed," parent Priya Sharma said before putting her son, Aadih, on the bus for the first time. "I was a little nervous, but I saw the school yesterday and it is very nice. I think he is going to do good."
There were few tears shed by the parents at this stop, many waving as the bus driver secured the children on the bus.
Instead, parents brought cameras and cell phones to record the special moment for posterity.
Several students, including 6-year-old Daniel, his mom Jennifer, and Annnya Roy, 5, said they were also excited about going to school and making new friends.
Ananya said she was "happy and excited" taking on the new adventure and was looking forward to seeing her friends in school.
As the bus prepared to leave, parents waved goodbye and shouted last minute instructions to their children.
Chief of Police Raymond Hayducka said the department would put on extra officers at all of the schools during the first few weeks of classes to make sure drivers are obeying the slower speed limits and watching for children walking to school.