Prepared to a ‘tea’

Marisa O’Neil

Incoming kindergarten students at Adams Elementary School got to meet

their new teachers and classmates at a welcome tea Friday morning.

For some, it was their first look at the school and their

classrooms, where they’ll start their studies on Tuesday. For others,

who participated in the school’s Jump Start orientation, it was a

return visit to a familiar place.

As their parents checked in and bought uniforms Friday, the

students ran around on the playground and scouted out their favorite

toys in the classrooms. But most refused to comment on their

impending first day of school.

When introduced to new people or asked about their new school

year, most offered shy nods, head shakes and shrugs. Starting

elementary school is, after all, a major milestone and a little

overwhelming.

“I think they’re all excited and ready for kindergarten,” teacher

Cynthia Rodgers said. “The parents are the ones who are nervous.”

Parents like Jamie Vandelanseryt had a hard time believing their

children were already starting school.

“It’s gone by so fast,” she marveled as she watched her daughter,

5-year-old Alexis, play in her new classroom.

To parents and children who have been through full-time preschool,

on the other hand, it was old hat.

“He raced through just about everything on the playground

already,” Jon Loveland said of his 5-year-old son, Nicholas.

The school’s Jump Start program started up again this year after a

four-year absence, said principal Candy Cloud. The two-week, half-day

program for students and parents wrapped up a week ago.

“It helps students get familiar with and get ready for

kindergarten so that fear factor is removed,” Cloud said. “And so

parents are comfortable about their babies taking off.”

While students learn the basics of what they’ll face in

kindergarten, the parents take their own classes. They learn things

like discipline, nutrition and how to encourage good study habits,

Cloud said.

Christian Marron, 5, took part in the program and was searching

for some of his new friends on the playground Friday. He’s looking

forward to most things about the school year, his father, Eli Marron

said, but not everything.

“I don’t think he’s excited about going to bed earlier and waking

up earlier,” he said with a laugh.