School starts up in Creston on Aug. 23 and, as that date approaches, 5-year-olds are preparing for their first year of elementary school. With any big transition comes some trepidation, so parents might consider doing the following to start the year off strong.
Practicing the route to school or their bus stop can help make their routine feel more familiar and comfortable when it comes time to actually use it. Similarly, visiting the school — even if you can’t go inside— will give the child an idea of what to expect and keep them from being overwhelmed by the size of it on the first day. Last, first-time parents of kindergartners may be a bit emotional or worried about leaving their child on the first day, but it’s important to look and sound positive, to lead their child by example in being excited instead of scared.
For advice for this fall’s kindergartners, themselves, the Advertiser interviewed some first-hand experts; the class of 2030, who completed their kindergarten year in June.
Leona Fry-Schnormeier of Creston Community Elementary offered some very specific guidance: “Do not bring rocks inside, because I got told a couple times.”
Ava Loudon of Creston Community Elementary advises incoming kindergartners to, “make friends, learn lots and have fun.”
For those worried about making friends or fitting in, Taelyn Pokorny of St. Malachy Catholic School offers some comforting advice: “you’ll fit in if you just talk to kids … everyone fits in, with everything.”
“Be respectful, be nice to others, listen to your teacher,” advises Johnny Gordon of Creston Community Elementary.
Marlee Spencer of Creston Community Elementary also said that it was important to “stay safe (and) be kind.”
And Jordyn Myers of Creston Community Elementary shared that, while it was hard at first because she missed her parents throughout the day, she later found herself missing her teacher, Mrs. Chesnut, when they had a substitute teacher. Students only spoke positively of their teachers, most often describing them as “nice” or “really nice.”
“Don’t be afraid to walk into school by yourself,” said Aybri Galanakis, who attended Creston’s Early Childhood Center last year. “Music class will make you happy.”
Overall, the advice of these incoming first graders emphasized two things, both of which were stated by Rogan Parker of Creston Community Elementary, who said that she wants incoming kindergartners to know, “that school is all about having fun and learning.”