No tears for two kindergarteners

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 9/3/15

There were a few tears yesterday, the first day of school. Parents were sad to see their children growing up, students were disappointed for the end of summer, and then there were kindergartners …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

No tears for two kindergarteners

Posted

There were a few tears yesterday, the first day of school. Parents were sad to see their children growing up, students were disappointed for the end of summer, and then there were kindergartners nervous and unsure of what to expect from school.

Some kindergartners held onto their favorite stuffed animals for comfort and others gripped their parents’ hands, tears starting to roll down their cheeks for the final goodbyes.

Not, for Madeleine Scott and Joseph McNally, though. Both took their first day of kindergarten like champs. There may have been some nerves, but neither cried and both were excited to be starting kindergarten.

Joseph, who started at Oakland Beach Elementary and also attended their preschool last year, said he was even dancing from excitement Wednesday morning before school. His parents, Joseph and Carla McNally, dropped Joseph off along with his older sister, Mia.

“Both of my kids love to learn,” McNally said. “That’s always great as a parent. They were actually happy to be going back to school.”

Joseph couldn’t wait to meet new friends and be with his fellow students from preschool again. He hoped that the class would play outside at least for a little while and was happy to know he would be learning new numbers, but assured he could already count to 39.

McNally said, “There weren’t any nerves this morning. It’s a little sad to see them start kindergarten because it means they are growing up. I’m just happy they are happy, though.”

Oakland Beach’s Principal Paul Heatherton said the first day of school is always “organized chaos” between goodbyes to parents and friends reuniting after a long summer apart.

“For kindergartners, though, this may be their very first experience with any type of school environment,” Heatherton said. “It’s a new building to spend their day with a lot of teachers and students they don’t know. That can get overwhelming.”

Warwick has a “Kids Day” in May where incoming kindergartners can take a ride on the school bus and take a tour of the school, meeting some of their fellow students to curb some of the fear that might come with the first day of school.

Joseph will be in a full-day kindergarten class with Jean Strauss, something his parents think will help better prepare Joseph for first grade.

Madeleine is also in a full-day kindergarten program at Hoxsie Elementary. Her parents, Gretchen Zeil and Edward Scott, said that Madeleine had attended full-day preschool and was ready for a full-day program.

“Full-day kindergarten is just a great experience,” Zeil said. “With more class time at an early age students do better down the road.”

Gary McCoombs, principal at Hoxsie, said kindergartners sometimes have a “deer in the headlights” look when walking to their classroom on the first day.

“For some, mom and dad are their whole lives and school can be a really scary thing,” he said, “but kindergartners are always so excited to learn, and we really feed off that enthusiasm.”

He said the first day of school is always one of mixed emotions for everyone, but especially for those parents who are sending their first child to school. He said as proud as parents may be to see their child go to school, there is also some sadness in seeing them growing up.

Madeleine is Scott and Zeil’s first child to enter the school system and both were a little emotional to see their daughter go.

“Watching her walk off to class was exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time,” Zeil said

Scott said Madeleine didn’t seem nervous until she saw another student crying and she realized parents weren’t going to the classroom.

“You could see this little look in her eyes,” he said. “But she’s a go-with-the-flow kid and strong; she’s going to do fine.”

Zeil said Madeleine going to kindergarten was a little scary for her because she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to stay with her daughter.

Madeleine, initially being the full-day preschool veteran, said that kindergarten didn’t seem “too exciting,” but she was all smiles when she recognized one of her friends in the classroom.

“I have a feeling Madeleine will come home tonight and list out a whole bunch of things she liked about kindergarten,” Zeil said.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • Justanidiot

    There were only tears from the teachers, who had to do work.

    The poor dears.

    Quick get them a raise and some more free health care.

    Friday, September 4, 2015 Report this