COUNTDOWN TO SCHOOL
By: Nick D’Amore
Today is filled with firsts for the Joseph family. It is the first day of school for their three sons. For one son, it is the first-ever day of any sort of school.
Danny Joseph, 5 years old, will be going to Greenbrook School today (Thursday), attending a full day of school for the first time as a kindergarten student.
His mother, Robbin, is "mortified."
"He goes everywhere with me. I’m going to come home and wonder what to do now," she said. "I’ve had kids at home for a long time, 14 years."
Ms. Joseph said shopping for school clothes and supplies was made somewhat easier because Danny knew exactly what he wanted.
"He’s very opinionated," she said.
Ms. Joseph said they got Danny’s Adidas backpack at Modell’s Sporting Goods and his lunchbox at Target.
"He’s the younger of three boys, so he didn’t want a theme lunchbox. He goes for the big kids’ ones, he wants to be cool like his brothers," she said.
To get a wardrobe befitting a brand-new scholar, they went to the Gap.
"He loves the Gap," said Ms. Joseph.
There, Danny picked out some new khaki shorts and clothes that were worn by store models with skateboards.
Finally, on his feet are new Nike sneakers that zip instead of lace up.
"That should make it easier for the kindergarten teachers, with one less shoe to tie," said Ms. Joseph.
Danny’s clothes were laid out the night before and his hair was cut in time for his big day.
"We’re making a big deal about the backpacks and the new shoes," she said.
"He got up this morning and said ‘After today, I get to go to school.’ He’s very excited," she said Tuesday.
Danny is better acquainted with the school and his teacher, Lois Margolis, than his brothers were.
Ms. Joseph said that last month, all the kindergarten teachers in the district made house calls to their new students to help ease the transition into a full day of school.
"Danny picked a class mascot and his teacher talked with him about what they’d be doing this year," she said. "Now, he has a connection to the school."
In addition to the teacher house calls, Danny also practiced riding the bus from his Wilson Lane home to Greenbrook for the first time, along with his fellow classmates.
"He met a lot of kids and saw new faces. He’s very confident and eager. He was born ready," said Ms. Joseph.
"Greenbrook is very welcoming, especially with kindergartners. They make them very comfortable," she said.
Today at 9 a.m. the bell will ring, signaling Danny’s first day of school, a half day districtwide.
Ms. Joseph will be following behind Danny’s bus to school to accompany him to his new classroom.
"They have a special name tag they have to wear that Ms. Margolis brought to the house. We’ll have to find his coat hook and his cubby," she said.
Though Ms. Joseph said she’s more at ease with her last child going to school than she was when her first child took first steps into his kindergarten classroom, she will be lonely for the first few days without Danny around.
"It will be a lonely feeling when I come home. At least I’ll have to dogs to keep me company," she said.

