Principal Makes Special Landing to Mark First Day of School

It's a bird, a plane? Wait, it's the principal?!

Principal Mary Walters made a grand first-day-of-school entrance when she landed in a helicopter on the football field Thursday morning, dressed as Wonder Woman.

The school year was kicked off with a Fabulous Four-themed pep assembly, marking the first year the campus has freshman through senior classes.

"We don't do anything small here," Walters said. "Last year I rode in on a Harley. So this year we took it up a notch."

Walters flew in from French Valley Airport, arriving to stands full of cheering students.

It was also a time for 575 freshmen to take a pledge during a tradition started at Murrieta Mesa when it opened two years ago. The class of 2015 walked in a procession, greeted by upperclassmen, district officials, and teachers wearing academic robes. It signified the day they will graduate four years from now.

"It brought tears to my eyes, everything just went perfect," said Activities Director Erin Moran, who arranged the helicopter ride and pep assembly.

"It is so neat to see all the freshmen faces again."

The school opened in 2009 with freshmen and sophomores. Two years later, officials said it is filled to capacity with more than 2,200 students.

"It's definitely larger than we expected," Moran said.

It was also an exciting day for seniors such as Victoria Coon, who has attended since the school opened and will graduate this spring with the class of 2012.

"I love it here," Victoria said. "It's a great school."

CLARIFICATION: According to Activitives Director Erin Moran, the helicopter ride cost $280 and was paid for out of funds raised by the sale of United Student Body (USB) cards. Monies raised for USB pay for pep rallies, dances and student recognition, Moran said.

Patch apologizes for not bringing this information in the initial reporting of this story.