It was a great first day for students entering the Lagoon Pre-School on Ireland Island. Witnessing the steady stream of parents, grandparents and other extended family members and staff, we tried to figure out who were more excited, the four-year-old first-timers being enrolled or their elders.

There was no doubt, however, that the most excited person was the warmly smiling veteran school principal, Mrs. Fherri-Lee Bucci. The fact that she seemed to know everyone, young and not so young by name was not surprising because she was welcoming the offspring of former students she taught decades ago and their elders with whom she had worked in the PTAs and otherwise.

"This is fantastic," she said afterwards.

"It's great to be in this community. It's like family."

There were no tears. The kids just fell into place at tables, mastering the colourful bits and pieces.

One of the great-grands was Mrs. Rose Brangman and her granddaughter Camille Simons, whom Mrs. Bucci taught at Sandys pre-school more than 15 years ago. A graduate of the Berkeley Institute, Camille took time out from her busy schedule to photograph her niece or nephew. Camille was rushed because she was leaving for Liverpool University to study Forensic Psychology.

Police Constable Donville Yarde, who lives in Pembroke, had a special attachment to Lagoon Park during the four years leading up to his retirement. He was a part of the official police outreach-out programme for Somerset schools. He came out of retirement for active service on the beat during the prevailing emergency.

Although he has no kin at the school, after working the midnight to eight shifts in Central on Tuesday night, the next morning he journeyed to Lagoon Park where he is a member of the PTA to help ensure all was well.