New Southern Bluffs principal excited for school year

LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- Tuesday is the first day of school for many kids across the Badger State, including the La Crosse School District.

At Southern Bluffs elementary, it was a day filled with big changes.

While kindergarteners adapted to their new classrooms, the school's new principal Amanda Durnen had the opportunity to meet her students.

Durnen was a kindergarten teacher for 19 years in the Winona School District before taking on a leadership role at a school district in Byron, Minnesota.

She said all of the families and staff at Southern Bluffs have been super welcoming.

"I'm just excited to get it started. The energy that was here at our open house night was just contagious," she said.

One of Durnen's priorities this year is creating strong community connections.

"Making sure we put a very big focus on building relationships with not only are students, but our colleagues, our families and then capitalizing on the wonderful resources that La Crosse has itself."

For one family that's new to the La Crosse School District, Durnen is a familiar face.

"We are actually coming from the district the principal here is coming from so we know her and feel comfortable with her so that's made it a lot easier switching school districts for us," said Jeffrey Neil, whose son started first grade Tuesday.

"Honestly he's been excited since the last day of kindergarten to start first grade, so he's been kind of waiting for that all summer."

Each elementary school in the district has a theme for the year.

Southern Bluffs' will be "Adventure is Waiting." Durnen says school itself is an adventure and she wants students, families and staff to know that no one is on this adventure alone.

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