On one side of the hall sits 29 years of experience on the kindergarten hall at Vidalia Lower Elementary School; on the other side sits a brand new face to the school and to the age group. Both are equally nervous about the first day of school.

Down the hall during parent orientation the 5-year-olds have found new toys and aren’t ready to leave yet. They aren’t nervous at all.

&uot;He wanted to come a month ago,&uot; Lynnette Moser said of her son Cade Goodwin. &uot;I’m just really excited knowing he will have interaction with other children.&uot;

Five-year-old Lexi Bray found a seat in a big girl desk in her kindergarten class while her mom took care of business. Bray said she’s excited about coming to school and coloring and playing. &uot;She’s been ready to go to school since her brother was in school,&uot; Bray’s mother Shana Bray said.

Ruth Brown knows she’ll have to put her 29 years of experience to good use today.

&uot;I’m always a little anxious,&uot; she said. &uot;And each year you say ‘I’ll never have another class like this,’ but you do. This is the best grade. I get them first.&uot;

The kindergarten classes at VLES will be split in half for the first two days of class.

Half the class will attend on today for half a day, then Friday the other half comes for a whole day. On Monday the whole class is compiled.

Brown said having a smaller class on the first day helps ease transition and gives her more time to get to know the students.

&uot;It will be about getting to know each other, stories, coloring,&uot; Brown said. &uot;It takes about six weeks to learn the routine.&uot;

Julia &uot;Teli&uot; Walker knows the first day is going to be a little different for her this year.

Walker has been teaching at Vidalia Junior High School for 10 years, but this year she’ll usher in her first class of kindergartners.

&uot;I always wanted to teach kindergarten,&uot; Walker said.

&uot;There was an opening and I was ready for a change. I’m looking forward to being able to hug them and see the light bulb go off a little easier. There will be a lot of things to get used to, though.&uot;

Public schools across the parish started today.