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photo by Steve VanGunda
New kindergartner, Tobiase Washington is comforted by West Primary kindergarten teacher Shannon Brown during his first day at school Thursday.
Despite a few tears, first day of school goes smoothly
Published Friday, August 8, 2008
NATCHEZ — With all the love of a doting mother, Yolanda Morgan pressed her face against the back window of the cafeteria at West Primary School.
She was looking for her son.
For Morgan’s son Thomas, 5, it was his first day of kindergarten at West.
Photo by Steve VanGunda
friends Kala Davis and Romeo Dorsey find strength in each other while walking with Kala’s mom Monique to their first day of kindergarten class at West Primary.
Morgan said when her son started the Head Start program last year he cried every day for close to a month.
In an effort to avoid a repeat of last year, she put Thomas on the bus early, by himself, then rushed to West to stand behind the cafeteria to watch him get off the bus at the cafeteria.
“You hate to leave them,” she said, watching parents dropping off their kids for the first time. “But you have to.”
Just then a woman walked by with a boy firmly attached to her leg — his face was swollen from crying.
“That’s the worst part right there,” she said.
And the window behind the cafeteria was a popular spot on Thursday morning.
Several parents dropped off their children in the cafeteria, left them with a kiss, then stood outside at the back window to watch over them for a little while longer.
The school only teaches pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, for many students it was their first school experience.
And while many looked excited to be at school, many looked nervous — some, utterly petrified.
Thursday was the first day back at school for all students in the Natchez-Adams School District.
Photo by Steve VanGunda
first-year teacher Martha Adams discusses books with her Cathedral first-grade students on the first day of class Thursday morning.
But across the district the students, and parents, at West were likely the most emotional.
The children started filing in at 7 a.m. for breakfast then headed off to class around 7:30.
Some ate nothing, some ate everything on their tray and some ate with tears on their faces.
And some, like 5-year-old Taylor Hunt, probably couldn’t have been more excited.
Her uniform was crisp, her backpack was new — she was prepared for the day.
Her mother Latonya said she had talking about her first day of school for days.
“It’s about the only thing she’s talked about,” she said.
Taylor, very excited, said she was most looking forward to “saying classroom words,” like “hello.”
Photo by Steve VanGunda
Cathedral Pre-K teacher Jodi Kelley answers a question from Hunter Boyte while Kaylea Hall and Jack Lewis look on.
Meanwhile, across town some kids were getting ready for a very different first day at school.
For them it was the beginning of the end of their high school careers.
Just after 8 a.m. Ebony Hill, 16, pulled into the parking lot at Natchez High School, put on her lip-gloss, and stepped out of her car on her first day of school as a senior.
“I’m definitely ready to graduate,” she said.
Hill came up in the ranks through the Natchez-Adams School District and now she’s ready to move on to bigger and better things.
She said she’s looking forward to attending college and working as a nurse practitioner.
District Superintendent Anthony Morris said for the first day of school things went very smoothly.
So smoothly in fact Morris said, “it actually did not seem like the first day of school.”
Morris said aside from scheduling conflicts with a few students there were no problems for the first day.
“Everything went according to plan,” he said.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
awww...That's so hard for a parent to do.....Good luck little men and ladies....
Posted by girlscout (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 1:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those poor little kiddies. They're scared to death. :(
Posted by ozzette (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've sent 3 off to kindergarten, and I've 2 more in the next few years, and I know it's harder on me than it is on them! I remember dropping my 9 year old off years ago for her first day, and I stood there in tears, but she never even looked back at me, her teacher was a new source of amazement. One day you are brand new parent of a wiggly little newborn, and then, you blink. :)
Posted by ladybuggs (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I STILL GET TEARY EYES WHEN MY KIDS GO OFF TO SCHOOL! MY OLDEST IS GOING OFF TO COLLEGE. I'LL STILL WORRY BECAUSE SHE'LL BE FAR FROM HOME.
Posted by humorme (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I got teary Twice yesterday. Once when I dropped them off and once when I picked them up!
Posted by ladyrider (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I, too, got teary eyed yesterday when my oldest daughter got in her car, waved goodbye with a big smile on her face and drove to Frazier Elementary where she is a brand-new first grade teacher. It took me back almost 20 years when she got out of the car to go to her first day of school and never looked back at me because she was so happy to be going to school!
I cried that day and I cried yesterday!
Posted by motown (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what a bunch of sad sacks
Posted by mcmy (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
motown get a life
Posted by motown (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
awwww
Posted by teacher (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand all of the comments, well except motown. Some children get out the cars and never look back and some you have to literally reach in and get. I hate to do it, but sometimes I have to tell the parents, "Its ok, you can go ahead. I assure you if he/she doesn't stop crying I will call and let you know." After a few minutes, (well maybe an hour), the child is fine. We may have to go through this for about three to four weeks, but I cannot think of a better job.
As we ALL start a new school year let's ALL pray one for another that we all have a Safe and Successful school year. :)
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 5:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ozzette i don't know if you listen to country music or not but there is a song "Don't blink"....I love that song....
teacher you have to be one of the good ones Thanks...
Posted by rattlesnake (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The song is by Kenny Chesney and i agree it is so true and such a beautiful song.
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on August 11, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My oldest is in her 2nd year off college,the other two are in elementary and middle school. I get teary eyed sometimes.I remember when they all started their first day. It is a little harder cause we were in the military and everybody started in different locations. Am I a softee are what?lol
Posted by BOBCAT1974 (anonymous) on August 11, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ladyrider im glad you're daughter got a teaching job! My neice graduated from College with good recomendations,wanted to come back to Natchez and get a teachers job in lower elementary,everyone out of town wanted to hire her on the spot,she waited so she came home put applications in everywhere ,noone will return her calls.She has e-mailed Sullivan and left messages but he will not return her call or e-mail her back.Good Luck!
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