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RIDGELY – The day dawned calm, sunny and unusually cool Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, as students dressed mostly in jeans, as well as some dresses and occasional hoodies, headed back to North Caroline High School for the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.
Armed with his walkie-talkie, Principal Matt Spiker greeted students from shortly after 7 to about 7:50 a.m. as they disembarked buses and vehicles in the lengthy car pool line.
“We’re close to 1,300 hundred students,” Spiker said, which is a “bit higher” than last year. “Last year we graduated 260. I think this year's freshman class is close to 310.”
Students headed straight to their classes, with assemblies set for Wednesday and Thursday, Spiker said.
Also on hand were was School Resource Officer DFC Thomas Bunce, as well as Caroline County Sheriff Donald Baker, who directed traffic on the recently re-paved River Road.
Beginning at NCHS and making the rounds to other schools were Caroline County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tara Downes and Director of Operations William Mengel.
