This could well be a first week of school that Prince George's County students, and parents, will remember for a long time.
After an uneventful opening bright and early Monday, Aug. 22, students got to practice their fire drill skills when buildings were emptied during the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Laurel from its epicenter in Mineral, Va.
Then on Wednesday, all schools across the county were closed to allow more time for buildings to be inspected by school officials to assess the damage.
On Thursday, 32 schools in the county, but no Laurel schools, remained closed while assessments continued and a few repairs were made. Schools closed Thursday that were located closest to Laurel included Beltsville Academy, which was one of six schools that remained closed Friday, and Greenbelt Elementary.
"The safety of our students, teachers and staff is our number one priority," Dr. William R. Hite Jr., Superintendent of Schools, said in a written statement released Wednesday. "We are working as quickly as possible to get the necessary building inspections completed so that school can resume for all students."
'One big truck'
At Bond Mill Elementary, in West Laurel, Principal Justin FitzGerald said he was speaking in the microphone during after-school announcements, just prior to dismissal, when the earthquake hit on Tuesday.
"My hands were resting on a wooden shelf, the shelf began to slowly move, at which point I thought, 'man, that is one big truck making a delivery to the school,' " FitzGerald said.
When the rumbling stopped, which FitzGerald said was just a few seconds later, he continued his announcements, telling the students, "we were given quite a surprise," but that all was well.
FitzGerald said that as students then filed out of the building for dismissal, the reaction he heard most was "that was awesome."
"They could not have been calmer or more collected," FitzGerald said. "The students, staff and parents did a tremendous job of keeping their composure and are to be commended."