By Davy James, Staff Writer
JAMESBURG — It’s fairly easy to spot a the parent of a kindergartner at the end of the first day, a proud grimace, loving eyes and a set of outstretched arms reaching for their child.
That was the scene on the playground at John F. Kennedy Elementary School Wednesday afternoon, as parents waited for a full report from their son or daughter on their first day at kindergarten.
”(I’m) good and tired,” said kindergartner Arnav Mago to his mother, Nilima, after she asked how his day went.
Although Ms. Mago had reservations about letting her 5-year-old roam JFK’s long hallways, she said the school’s many programs and procedures put most of her fears to rest.
”This is my first kindergartner,” she said. “I was anxious this morning. But I was feeling so relieved knowing he was in good hands.”
Ms. Mago said she was impressed early-on after watching Principal Al Perno at JFK’s orientation in June, noticing that he knew many of the parents and seemed to be a good source of knowledge.
”I used to focus on the big picture, philosophies, and that’s important, too,” Mr. Perno said about orientation. “But what parents really want to know is what they have to do the for the first day of school. It’s a lot of rules and regulations.”
To the relief of Ms. Mago, she said that when it was time to begin his day she watched her son quickly take to the teacher’s instruction by lining up behind his fellow students and making that long march into class.
One seasoned kindergarten mom, Nicole Petralia, said that even experienced parents can have a few worries on that first day of school.
Before sending her middle child, Kaylie, off to kindergarten at JFK Tuesday, Ms. Petralia said she could only give her daughter a kiss and a hug, tell her that she loved her and hope for the best.
”I’m a strong believer of morals and faith,” she said. “I just hope she’s going to make the right choices without me there.”
While the first days of school can be trying for many of her parents, JFK kindergarten teacher Diana Santowasso said that with each passing day it gets a little easier as students begin to settle into a routine and become more comfortable in their surroundings.
As one of JFK’s three kindergarten teachers, Ms. Santowasso said that in the six years she’s taught at the school the most common concern of parents is related to their child’s progress.
”I think they get nervous about whether or not their kids can read or make friends,” she said. “We try to say: take it slowly. There’s such a change in what they do in September to what they do in November.”
Come June, Ms. Santowasso said, most of her pupils will be able count to 100 and by multiples of five, do basic addition and subtraction and even read sight words.
But what is required of today’s batch of young students has definitely changed since Ms. Santowasso first walked the halls, she said.
”They always refer to (kindergartners) as sponges because they soak up so much information,” she said. “We set our standards high because we realized kids can reach them.”
But it’s not all about reading, writing and arithmetic for Ms. Santowasso’s 24 students, as emotional development and social skills can’t be taught from the pages of a book.
”Be kind to each other, that’s the number one rule in the classroom,” she said.
JFK parents’ next opportunity to see how their children are transitioning will come on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. during the school’s open house.
For questions or more information contact the school at 732-521-0400.

