Today is one of the most important days of the year.

It’s the day that sets the stage for an entire year of education — maybe even an entire educational career — for more than 14,000 young people. It’s the first day of school for Suffolk Public Schools, and we hope you’ll join us in wishing all of the teachers and students a successful and memorable first day and, indeed, the entire year.

Teachers and students will be working hard all year on teaching and learning academic concepts and skills, of course, but also on inspiring and being inspired, learning about and showing kindness, and making friends and lifelong memories.

A lot of the focus may be on the students and teachers, but there are many other roles in the school system. Bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, counselors, principals, assistant principals and many others are all working together to get students to school, keep them fed, keep them safe and do the other tasks necessary to make it a successful school year for everybody.

Exciting for everybody this year is the fact that all of Suffolk’s public schools will be able to display a “Full State Accreditation” banner this year, the result of many years of hard work by everyone in the school system. This accomplishment must instill everyone with a special sense of pride that will carry them into the new school year with a renewed energy and focus.

Parents, your responsibilities don’t end now that summer is over. Whether you have a new kindergartener just learning to write her name in crayon or a rising senior doing his calculus on the bus on the way to an away game, they still need your encouragement and involvement.

We look forward to seeing what the new school year brings!