The new Selma High School is prepped and ready for the new generation of students, and as of Friday the students are prepped and ready for school to start.

Friday marked the last day for students to register for classes and they were given an orientation with their homeroom teacher, complete with a tour of the new school.

Selma High principal Wanda McCall spoke to parents at orientation.

“We need to instill in our kids to have school pride. I even tried to instill school pride in the old school building,” McCall said. “No matter where you are, you keep it cleaned up and presentable so we are going to make sure the building stays clean and we have a lot of cameras around.”

As they got their first look at the new school, the Times-Journal asked some Selma High School seniors to weigh in on their thoughts about the new school, the old school and what they are most excited about in the coming year.

“When we hear ourselves for the first time it is going to be beautiful,” Journi Owden said about the Selma High School choir performing in the new auditorium. “I am just overwhelmed and speechless after seeing the new building.”

Seniors Kevin Mosley and Preston Pritchett said they love the new school and will not be missing the hassles of the old facility.

“The old school, there was a lot of parts that were falling down and leaking ceilings and lot of times the air conditioning got stuck or messed up,” Mosley said.

“I will miss how historic [the old school] was and we were the last students to be in the old Parrish High School and that is pretty cool. I’ll miss that,” Pritchett said.

Students also talked about their favorite parts of the new school, which features a new media center, cafeteria and even tornado shelters. Some students like Mya Patterson, said she loved the bathrooms and Erik Peeples said he liked the new cafeteria and its round tables.

“I heard there was going to be an indoor pool,” Peeples joked about the rumors he heard during the school’s construction.

“I think it’s like the best thing for Selma,” Pritchett said of the new school.

 

Increased patrols

Selma Chief of Police William Riley said — as in years past — his department, in conjunction with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, will have an increased presence in each of the school zones and will be enforcing traffic laws involving school buses.

The one zone that has given Riley the most concern, is the crossing area near Edgewood Elementary, which crosses the ever-busy Highland Avenue.

In addition, Riley warned drivers the area around Selma High School will be increasingly busy as the student drop-off areas will be again impacted by ongoing construction.

“I would suggest that those drivers not going to Selma High School, try to find an alternate route and avoid the Franklin Street area around the school,” Riley said.

School officials suggest those dropping off students at Selma High, enter Memorial from Franklin, make a right in front of the school and stay in right lane. Drop off students at the front entrance of the new cafeteria. Then, drivers are asked to exit, make a right turn on 6th Avenue back to Franklin Street.

As for picking up students, drivers are asked to enter Memorial from Broad Street then make a left in front of the school, staying in the left lane. Pick up students in front of the cafeteria and then again exit by making a left on 6th Avenue, heading toward Broad Street.

 

Earlier morning

Selma High School students need to remember the school day begins earlier than it did last year.

The school day begins at 7:40 a.m. and ends a little later than normal, with school letting out at 3:20 p.m.