This week is a tough week. It's that time when students exchange their fishing poles and suntan lotion for their pencils, notebooks and calculators.

A new school year gets under way next Tuesday with students returning to classes in most Minnesota schools, including Grades K - 9 in the Staples Motley district. The rest of the senior high student body starts school next Wednesday.

In the Staples Motley district, students will find a new elementary principal serving both Staples and Motley elementary buildings. Jason Luksik took over from Gwynne Gildow this past summer, with Gildow retiring after nearly 40 years in the district.

School officially begins Tuesday, Sept. 8, for students attending Motley Elementary and Motley Staples Middle School; and Open Houses were held at each of these schools on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

In Staples, an Open House was held at Staples Motley High School on, Sept. 2, and an Open House will be held at Staples Elementary

School tonight

(Thursday, Sept. 3) from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

New MSMS staff members include Keri Ellingson and Bob Toews, both joining on a part time basis as speech clinicians; and Cindy Zetah and Julie Ehresman, coming on board as teacher assistants.

Shelley Trantina has been hired as a Title I teacher assistant at MES.

Another big change at MES is the addition of a second Kindergarten room, which is located in what formerly was a special ed. room; and most recently used as a storage space.

The additional Kindergarten teacher had not been hired by the time of this publication.