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Highland Hills Elementary starts new school year with Western theme

Chuck wagon, horse greet kids on first day

SAN ANTONIO – A western theme helped ring in the first day back to school at Highland Hills Elementary in the San Antonio Independent School District.

Students who walked up to campus early Monday morning perked up as they took in the scene, complete with a chuck wagon and a horse.   

Teachers dressed in their finest western clothes and the school was filled with decorations.

The first 300 students were even given their own cowboy hats.

"I think it just kind of brings some excitement in the air and gives students a little something extra to look forward to and they get excited about it so that's what we want to do is motivate them," said Principal Joanelda DeLeon.

"It's going to be fun," said Katie Winniford, a second-grade student.   

The event was organized by teachers who came up with the idea at the end of the last school year.

The horse, named Cinnamon, was brought in by one of the the teachers.

Students were given carrots to feed the horse, which helped ease some first-day jitters. It also gave some parents ammunition to help get kids motivated in the morning.

"I asked her this morning, '(Do) you still want to get out and see the horse?' and she said yes, so we made it here on time," said grandparent Lillian Bedeker.


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