The first weeks of school have arrived and they are pretty busy. Get ready to fill out all that back-to-school paperwork.

I’ll start with the good news: All Salisbury Township schools are closed Sept. 2 and 5 to observe Labor Day.

Salisbury Middle School will host the first open house in the district 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 8 followed by picture day Sept. 13.

Next is Western Salisbury Elementary School with open house for grades kindergarten, first and second 7 p.m. Sept. 13 and picture day Sept. 14.

Salisbury High School also has picture day Sept. 14. Last year the picture day changed for one of the schools, so it is always a good idea to visit the school website to get up-to-date information.

Are you a fan of the Wawa Shortie? If so, find a Salisbury cheerleader or contact Coach Paula at pdouris@salisburysd.org to purchase a coupon for one Shortie. The cheerleaders are selling the coupons until Sept. 9. Grab yours today!

An operations committee meeting is scheduled 7 p.m. Sept. 7 in the administration building.

A school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the administration building.

Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church will be hold a community breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Sept. 10. There will be a back-to-school theme. A donation is suggested. All proceeds benefit the 275th Anniversary Celebration.

Also Sept. 10, Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church will host a concert by “The Wandering Singers” 7:30 p.m. Come listen to this beautiful chorus led by Peter Deshler.

The Devonshire drop-off center is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 3 and 6. The days of operation are the first and third Tuesday and Saturday of the month.

Can you believe it has been 15 years since 9/11? I read somewhere this year’s freshman high school class will be the first one in which students were not even born before Sept. 11, 2001. Then I realized my youngest is a freshman this year and I had just found out I was pregnant with him five days before 9/11.

After watching the horrific events on television that day, I remember wondering, “What kind of world am I bringing this baby into?” I also remember how in the weeks following, American flags were flying from every porch and flagpole to show unity and pride in our country.

If you have an American flag, I encourage you to fly it high Sept. 11.

“Everyone responds to kindness.” Richard Gere