Pembroke Elementary School students returned to their building Monday morning for the first time since it was damaged by a tornado on the morning of December 11.
Christmas break came at an opportune time to allow for repairs to the building and the district postponed the reopening of Pembroke by one more week than the rest of the school system.
Principal Dana Gary says the students were excited to be in their building and the first day back went well, with only a very few lingering issues.
She says the tornado damage was to mostly the front of the building, including the offices.
Gary says the school was able to help some of the families of students who sustained damage to their homes, in partnership with the Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department and the community.
While the damage to the school and to so many homes in the Pembroke area has been a trying time, Gary says everyone knows things could have turned out so much worse.
Gary thanked the school system and every agency and member of the community who has helped with the tornado recovery in Pembroke.