Briggs was ready to go back to school. He wasn't too concerned about who was in his class or who his teacher was, but seemed pleased to find a few friends in his class and liked his teacher at Meet the Teacher night. He didn't ask for a new backpack or a different lunch box, but was excited about the new school supplies he picked out with Uma (especially his pencil box) and was pumped to get to wear his new school shoes.
Briggs has Mrs. Spence as his teacher this year. Of the 4 first grade teachers, she's the only one we have never had as a teacher. Briggs liked that her room was decorated with Dr. Seuss, asking to wear something "Dr. Seuss-y" for his first day of school. He was also pleased that his friends Keiko, Hudson, and Reagan are in his class this year.
Adelie was excited about the return to school. She was a little sad that we couldn't find any of her close friends with the same teacher, but seeing her class list at Meet the Teacher night put her more at ease with the kids she knows and ones that she wants to know better.
Adelie has Mrs. Hitchins as her teacher. This was the same teacher Staley had for 3rd grade, and we love her!
Staley is my child taking the biggest step this year. She is heading off to the Middle School! New school, riding the bus, lockers with combination locks, changing classes, multiple teachers, band, kids from different schools that come together for middle school... So many changes to be excited (and nervous) about heading into this year.
Staley has Mrs. Bishop as her homeroom teacher. Mrs. Bishop is a friend of ours, her daughter does Stage Kids with Staley, and we've known her for years. This was the teacher Staley wanted for homeroom, and I feel good knowing that Mrs. Bishop will be looking out for Staley and helping Staley get off on the right foot for her middle school journey.
Staley's closest friends did not end up in her same homeroom, but she has several friends in her class this year. She was excited to discover that her best friend, Lilian, has the locker right next to hers and her good friend, Olivia, has the locker right above hers. And with less restrictions this year, Staley is hopeful that she'll be able to sit with her friends at lunch and spend time with them at recess. She is also looking forward to meeting kids from Goodfield and Congerville who join Eureka for middle school.
Staley was very nervous about her first day of school. Although excited about the new school and new independence, she woke up with nerves and could barely eat her breakfast. She had packed her backpack the night before, practiced multiple times with her combination lock to make sure she could do it, and picked out her first day of school outfit but she still had apprehension about finding her locker and her classroom, knowing which bus to get on at the end of the day, and all the new things that come with being at a new school.
Thankfully I dropped her off at the same time as her friend, Josie, so she had a friend to walk in with. I know that made her (and me) feel way better!
There is so much to love about a new school year. It's always a fresh start. You put on the new shoes, pack up the new supplies, meet a new teacher, adjust to a new set of kids, and look forward to learning lots of new things. It's always bittersweet as I watch my kids take these new steps time and again. I love watching them grow and move into these new phases, but it's that constant reminder of how quickly time is flying by.
