On Monday, the New Ulm Public Schools 5th and 9th graders returned to school and this Tuesday the rest followed.

All the remaining public school grades, except kindergarten, returned to school on Tuesday. The kindergartners are set to return on Wednesday. Minnesota Valley Lutheran also split their intro school days, with Freshman starting Monday and the rest following suit on Tuesday.

The idea behind splitting up the start time was to give students coming into a new building a chance to acclimate to a new location with few students in the halls.

Tuesday was also the first day for New Ulm Area Catholic (NUACS) students as well as the students at St. Paul’s Lutheran School.

Students walk away from their school bus as they begin their first day of school at New Ulm Middle School

The playground outside St. Anthony’s was full Tuesday morning with the elementary grades awaiting the first bell of the new year.

New Ulm Area Catholic Schools President Sister Julie Brandt said was a school tradition on the first day to have a family drop-off period. It allowed families to get their first day of school photos and let parents reconnect with other parents.

“It helps show this is a community school,” Brandt said.

This year NUACS is welcoming 420 students back to school in grades pre-K through 12th grade. Brandt said roughly 35 students, were new to the NUACS schools. She said much of the first day would be about helping the students learn the routine and meet their new teachers.

St. Paul’s Lutheran School began the new school year with around 316 students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Another 45 kids were in pre-school classes.

By 8:15 a.m. all St. Paul students had gathered in the school gym for the first opening service of the school year. Pastor Rob Guenther introduced the student to this school year’s theme, taken from Ephesians 3, verse 12: “In him [Jesus our Lord] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Following the opening service, the entire school gathered outside for the raising of the U.S. flag. This year’s flag was donated by teacher Steve Biedenbender. Biedenbender said the flag was originally given to his father Gerhard Biedenbender, who served as the Company Clerk with the First Calvary in Korea. Biedenbender said his father also served in the army chorus and traveled around to countries singing. He hoped the flag would serve St. Paul’s Lutheran for years to come. The entire school recited the pledge of allegiance as it was raised to start the 2023-2024 school year.