Mt. Airy girl gears up for the first day of school

MOUNT AIRY (WPVI) -- Action News spent the morning with Nydia Patterson and her mom in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia as they prepared for the first day of school.

Nydia's wake-up call came just after 6:00 a.m. Monday in the form of the live Action Cam.

With bacon sizzling on the stove, Nydia and I soon caught up over breakfast.

It was the first day of classes for students in Philadelphia public schools. And it was Nydia's first day at Hill-Freedman World Academy in Germantown.

"I am feeling butterflies," she told Action News.

Her mom, Valerie Tartt, was busy bustling around the kitchen packing a lunch. A bologna sandwich and fruit was on the menu.

And she helped her daughter fasten her tie.

Valerie spoke about the importance of parental involvement, especially in light of the $81 million budget shortfall the Philadelphia School District is facing.

"As parents, we need to help to support it, be able to fill in wherever we need to fill in, to make sure that our children are successful," she said.

Soon it was time to get out the door and get to class, with the promise of a brand new school year awaiting.

"I'm really excited," said Nydia. "I really want to have a good year and get good grades, and I just want to excel."