Excitement Reigns at First Day of School in Ocean City

There were no first-day-of-school jitters for Maddie Marrero.

Smiling broadly, she confidently posed for pictures in a rainbow-colored circle of balloons that served as the ideal photo-op for students to mark the first day of school Thursday morning.

“I can’t wait to play with the toys,” Maddie, a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten student at the Ocean City Primary School, exclaimed while drawing a laugh from her mother, Karla Marrero, an Ocean City resident.

Before marching through the front door to begin her classes, Maddie also said she was excited to see her friends again to start the school year.

Altogether, about 1,700 students at Ocean City’s high school, intermediate school and primary school started the 2025-2026 school year Thursday – just three days after the end of the Labor Day weekend closed out their summer vacations.

Ocean City’s schools also include students from the sending districts of Sea Isle City, Upper Township, Corbin City and Longport.

Mackey Beyel, 9, who was starting the third grade at the primary school, was joined by his 5-year-old brother, Bo, and 5-year-old sister, Simi, who are twins entering kindergarten.

Mackey acknowledged feeling “maybe a little nervous” on the first day of school.

Bo and Simi seemed super-excited to get the school year started.

“I like playing and doing arts and crafts,” Bo said.

“I’m so excited to come back to school to play with my friends,” Simi added.

    The Beyel children, from left, Mackey, Bo and Simi, arrive for their first day of school.
  

The Beyel children were escorted to school by their parents, David and Michelle Beyel, their grandmother, Sandy, and their Aunt Casey.

“We’ve got the whole family here,” said David Beyel, who lives in Ocean City with his family.

Students at the primary school were given a lively and colorful “welcome back” by the teachers and administrators, including Superintendent of Schools Christian Angelillo and Principal Cathy Smith.

Angelillo emphasized that the first day of school traditionally represents a key step in forging a relationship between students, parents and school staff.

“I think it’s just wonderful,” he said.

For Angelillo, Thursday was the 31st time he has celebrated the first day of school during his career in education. He, too, felt excited.

“First, it’s such a great day. There’s this anticipation that comes with the first day. Everything is brand new. This is something special,” he said.

    Superintendent of Schools Christian Angelillo and Primary School Principal Cathy Smith make their way through a shower of bubbles at the school's front entrance.
  

Smith praised the primary school’s teaching staff for all their work in getting the building ready for the first day of classes. She noted that some of the teachers began showing up on Aug. 18 to begin prepping the school – well in advance of their first official day back on Tuesday.

“They want to make sure that everything is perfect. They have a commitment not only to teaching, but more so to the kids,” Smith said.

“Our staff does an amazing job,” she added.

The primary school invited the students and parents in for an hour-long orientation Wednesday to familiarize them with the building and make them feel more comfortable in advance of their official first day.

“I want them to feel comfortable, I want them to feel happy and I want them to feel loved,” Smith said of the children.

By about 8:45 a.m., all of the primary school students were inside the building and ready for the official start of their first day for the 2025-2026 school year.

    Ocean City Primary School kindergarten teacher Jen Blanc, left, and Principal Cathy Smith greet some of the students.

    Students, parents and teachers gather on the front lawn of the primary school before the children head inside for classes.

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