CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville Academy celebrated the first half-day of the 2022-23 school year on Thursday. The school’s faculty and staff, along with cheerleaders and the school’s Cougar mascot, welcomed students as they were dropped off by the families.

Head of School Jennifer Hinote shared her enthusiasm for the students. “We’re very excited to be here for the first day of school. We are thrilled to welcome new students and tons of returning students. It just feels normal to have everyone back at home because we consider ourselves a family.”

Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy faculty, and staff join together with parents of kindergarten and senior students for the Boo-Hoo Breakfast at the celebration for the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Parents drop off students at Clarksville Academy as students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
A drone, in the upper left of the photo, takes video as Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration of the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
A drone takes video as Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration of the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Academy students, faculty, and staff join together for the celebration on the first day of the 2022-23 school year on, Aug. 11, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

Hinote added Clarksville Academy has approximately 529 students starting the new school year that attended a half-day on Thursday. Friday will be another half-day with students, faculty and staff returning to full days on Monday, Aug. 15.

Clarksville Academy enlisted the aid of Doug Cattelier from Austin Peay State University to fly a drone from outside the school, through the front door, glancing into the hallways, and then moving into the gymnasium for an assembly for 5th-12th grade students.

Along with the drone, each year Clarksville Academy hosts the Boo-Hoo Breakfast, an opportunity for the families of kindergarten and senior students to commemorate the first day of school.

“What we have found is those two classes are emotional for families on the first day of school a little bit more than the other classes. We commemorate this special day for them and having them to come to the library to commiserate on how time flies,” Hinote said.