PHOTOS: First day of classes at Apalachee High after shooting

Metro Atlanta

Apalachee High School students resumed classes nearly a month after the fatal shootings there on Sept. 4.

As students arrived at Apalachee High School Tuesday morning, the scene looked like a typical school day. Cars and buses circled through the carpool drop off. -- All text by Martha Dalton/AJC

Students clad with backpacks made their way from the parking lot to class.

There were some differences though. Students stopped to hug each other before going inside.

A sign with big blue letters that reads ‘Love will prevail” is perched near the entrance. U.S. and Georgia flags are at half-mast. The flagpole is surrounded by flowers, balloons and wreaths left in memory of the four people shot and killed here less than three weeks ago.

It’s also hard to miss the flashing blue lights of the Georgia State Patrol cars stationed in front of the school. Tuesday is the first day of classes at the Barrow County school since the shooting. Administrators held an open house Monday at the school to prepare students for the return.

There have been calls for increased security since officials say a 14-year-old student opened fire in the hallway Sept. 4.

In addition to more officers on campus, the school district has said it will have more counselors and therapy dogs available to Apalachee students.

The hall where the shooting took place will be closed for the remainder of the school year, so social studies classes will be held in another building a few miles away, the school district website says.

“Understand that there are safety measures in place, and just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there, contrary to what you hear and see on the social media world,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said at a press briefing Monday.

Classes will only last for half the day for the next few weeks.

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As students arrived at Apalachee High School Tuesday morning, the scene looked like a typical school day. Cars and buses circled through the carpool drop off. -- All text by Martha Dalton/AJC

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