Welcome Back, Rochester Students: 'U. R. Awesome!'

It was a cold morning on Monday, but at Stoney Creek High School, students were welcomed back after a two-week winter break in the warmest of ways.

Teachers and administrators lined the school entryways displaying handmade messages of encouragement for students.

It was the idea of teacher Cara Lougheed, who saw something similar on Twitter and encouraged her colleagues to play along.

"Let's start 2013 off right," Lougheed wrote in a message to teachers. "But let's TRY to make Monday not just a good day, but a GREAT one."

Stoney Creek Assistant Principal Amanda McKay sent us these photos from the morning. We're sharing on Patch because we think the messages of encouragement can apply to all students of Rochester. Welcome back!