Ruby Bridges makes a surprise virtual visit to Woodinville school

Nearly 60 school districts are welcoming students back for their first day of remote learning this week in Washington state, including Northshore School District’s brand-new Ruby Bridges Elementary.

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Sixty years after Bridges was the first student to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana, there’s a school named after her in Woodinville.

And the school’s namesake made a surprise virtual visit.

“Welcome to Ruby Bridges’ Elementary. I’m Ruby Bridges.”

That’s what students heard from their computer screens as they logged on for their first day back.

“I didn’t know that would happen,” one student said, laughing with excitement.

“We were hoping to surprise you guys,” Bridges responded.

Bridges also discussed her first school day in 1960, when at 6-years-old she was thrust into the center of the Civil Rights Movement.

“My first day was really different. And I know that your first day today is different from what you guys are accustomed to, but at the end of my year, I loved my school,” she said.

“Right now, I think things are so different in the country, why don’t we set an example for the adults?” Bridges asked the kids. “We can show them how we need to behave, don’t you think?”

"Kids can actually set an example for grown-ups. And in Ruby Bridges Elementary, I hope that you guys set an example for grown-ups." Ruby Bridges Elementary students had their first school assembly yesterday and got to hear from a very special guest, Ruby Bridges! pic.twitter.com/n7aCTnh2MI

— Northshore School District (@Northshore_SD) September 3, 2020

The first-day visit was the second surprise appearance by Bridges to the Northshore school. She also spoke with school staff last month to support them as they prepared for distance learning.

The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.