eighth-graders and kindergarten students are getting ready to head back to school.
By: Matt Kirdahy
The Cranbury School will open its doors again next week to a new batch of kindergartners, all of them ready for their first day of school thanks to some of the adults who care about them most their parents and teachers.
The parents supply the child and the teachers are supplying the pencils, crayons, markers, and the wherewithal in the classroom, all in anticipation for the first day of school on Sept. 4 at 8:25 a.m.
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Ready for their final year Next month, the eighth-graders at the Cranbury School will start their final year in a place that gave them friends, an education and the necessary preparation to advance to the next level. But high school is a year away, and incoming eighth-graders are thinking about a new Cranbury School gymnasium, being the oldest students in the school and fighting for an A. "Yeah, they’re not going to go easy on us, but I’m looking forward to being the top dog," eighth-grader Joe D’Eramo said. Joe came to Cranbury School in third grade. He said he plays basketball and baseball and the trumpet in the concert band. Classmate Curtis Smith entered the school in fifth grade. He said he said he is focused on academics. "I think it’s an important year to get good grades," Curtis said. "But I expect it to be easier than seventh grade because it’s your last year. I know from my older sisters that the teachers let you off a little more." Curtis is looking forward to being a part of the golf and the baseball teams. Classmate Max Maguire said he tried to stay as active as possible over the summer by playing football and swimming in the pool. He said he can’t wait for a taste of seniority. "I’m looking forward to getting to be the oldest there," Max said. "It’s cool to have everyone looking up to you in a way." Max also is involved in the Cranbury School play productions throughout the school year. In August, he starred as the Artful Dodger in the play "Oliver" at Washington Crossing Park in Mercer County. Max also said he can’t wait to make use of the new gym. The gym is part of the school’s $5.9 million 36,000-square-foot addition. The new wing will feature several new classrooms and computers. "I wish I was a sixth-grader so I could get to use it for an extra three years," Max said. "The good thing is that we’ll be able to have gym class when the kindergartners have an assembly in the old gym," Curtis said. "It’s going to be a lot nicer with the new lockers and a bigger gym will be nice." But as exciting as a gym with spectator seating sounds to them, students are still looking to the books and are confident they will excel in class. When all is said and done, Joe said that when he graduates, he and his classmates are going to miss the school. "We have a lot of friends here and our teachers worked us hard for high school," he said. (end of sidebar story). Matt Kirdahy |
"We just asked that they bring a small blanket and a pillow along with a backpack and lunchbox," kindergarten teacher Barbara Adams said.
Kindergarten is the first time the students are going to spend a full day in school. They will eat a snack in the morning, lunch at 11 a.m. and then another snack before an afternoon nap.
It’s a routine that might make the adjustment easier for incoming students Noah Ziegler, 5, and Christina Patchel, 5, who are spending their last days of summer preparing.
"I think he would’ve been ready for that last year because he wanted to be there at preschool every day and he was only there three days," Noah’s mom Kim Ziegler said. "He wanted to see his buddies."
Natalie Patchel said she expects the same motivation from her daughter Christina.
"She is the kind of kid that always needs something to do," Ms. Patchel said. "I think that once she gets going she’ll be excited."
Ms. Adams is one of three kindergarten teachers who will be teaching this year’s classes. The other teachers are Sharron Fass and Audrey Smith.
Ms. Adams said Ms. Fass has a teacher’s assistant because her class is the largest at 23. The other classrooms will have 21 students.
Before students get comfortable, they will get to visit their new classroom on Sept. 3 from 1 to 2 p.m.
"That way the kids can map out their route to get to their specific room come the first day of school," Ms. Adams said.
Ms. Ziegler says her son Noah is looking forward to starting a full day of school.
"I think he has been prepared for a few years because he has an older sister he tries to catch up to," Ms. Ziegler said Tuesday. "We toured the school a bit (Monday) so he’s been there a lot because I’ve been there a lot. He is kind of familiar with the building."
Natalie Patchel’s daughter Christina is the first of her siblings to enter kindergarten. Ms. Patchel said she has helped her daughter prepare for the work.
"We’re trying to read more books that she basically is practicing," Ms. Patchel said. "We’re just keeping track of that and not stopping throughout the summer just to keep her sharp so that she doesn’t forget."
Ms. Adams said it’s good to have that kind of experience prior to starting kindergarten, but it’s not required. She said it’s more important that the students get a fulfilling experience while they are in the classroom.
"We don’t have a checklist of things they have to know," Ms. Adams said. "We usually work on their confidence and a lot of their creativity. Our main objective at this level is to make sure that they are reading ready. They’ll be able to pronounce the letter sounds and build small words using those sounds."
Ms. Adams said that during the first couple of weeks the lesson plans are based around autumn themes until Halloween and Thanksgiving.
"Usually the first couple weeks is just about getting to know each other," Ms. Adams said. "We do try to make those bonds early on so the students can develop an appreciation for the school and get to know the school."