Area students have started returning to school, with many seeingthe first full week of activities beginning Monday.

The new school year brings new challenges and opportunities forstudents, parents, teachers and administrators. All play importantroles in the education of tomorrow’s work force and the community’sfuture leaders.

The new school year also brings increased traffic on citystreets and county roads as buses and parents ferry children to andfrom school each morning and afternoon. Motorists are advised todrive cautiously and be careful when traveling through schoolzones.

With academic and athletic successes, southwest Mississippi isblessed to have some of the best public and private schools in thestate. One community official recently called our community’seducation system a “shining star” in economic developmentefforts.

Also, the Mississippi School of the Arts is finding its footingas it begins its third year of educating some of the state’s bestand brightest artistic students. Administrators say this year’sclass features an even more diverse student body drawn from allparts of the state.

Good luck to all area students as they begin a new phase oftheir educational journeys.