New experiences in kindergarten
By: Joseph Harvie
Some of the students walked in as early as 7:45 a.m. on Sept. 7, many with parents escorting them into the gymnasium of Brooks Crossing at Deans School.
In the gym, they lined up behind a cone with a sign on it, designating the different kindergarten teachers. The children waited there for the first bell to ring at 8:15 a.m. to start the first day of their elementary school career.
"I’m excited for the first day," Farhen Shrik said. "Because I like school."
The kindergartner said that he is excited because he is hoping to make new friends.
Jaiden Haney said she is looking forward to playing, but said she is not overly anxious about the school day.
"It’s my first day, but I’m not nervous," Jaiden said. "I like to play but I also like to learn."
Once the 19 kids in Melissa Johnsen’s class assembled, they headed down the hallways, through several doorways and finally into their classroom. The children, who walked in quietly, were told to sit on the rug and wait for their seat assignments.
Once seated at tables, Ms. Johnsen had the children play with puzzles and blocks while she got the students organized placing their book bags in the closet and their lunch boxes in the cubbies near the closet.
Matthew Aker was making a robot out of peg blocks, while Gregory Boswell made a castle out of blocks. As the children played, others were called to the front of the room to get unpacked.
"When I call your name come over and we’ll empty out your backpack and make sure you have a lunch," Ms. Johnsen said.
She said the first day of school is usually slow to start because she shows the children the basics of the classroom, like where the students put their jackets, backpacks and lunches. In addition, the children got a lesson on how to use the bathroom.
"The bathroom here is a little different than at home," Ms. Johnsen said. "The toilet is pretty much the same, but the sink you have to push the knobs down so the water comes out, and it turns off all on its own."
Most of the children were already aquatinted with some of the classroom etiquette that Ms. Johnsen said she expects from her class. She said that most of the students came in for kindergarten prep prior to the start of the school.
At prep the children learned what to do when Ms. Johnsen shuts the lights off, which is a signal to be quiet, and when she plays the chime, which is a signal to quiet down and "your eyes should be on me," she said.
She used both during her first day of class, and the students responded.
"I see my kindergarten prep children remember what it means when I shut the lights off," Ms. Johnsen said.
Before school started, Principal Gary Abbamont walked the hallways, video camera in hand, anxious to see the kindergartners get off to a fresh start.
"We all worked hard to get ready for the new school year," Mr. Abbamont said. "We’re well prepared and the students should be too."