Students Board Buses, Parents See More Free Time

It's Wednesday, Sept. 8, and, for more than 9,000 students around the district, that can only mean one thing—it's time to go back to school.

Students awoke this morning with mixtures of excitement and nerves as they prepared to enter a new grade, or even a new school.

"It's my first day at this school, and I'm nervous if my teachers will like me," said fifth grader Megan Curry, who waited on the corner of Milltown Road and Andover Avenue for the bus to take her to Eisenhower Intermediate. "But I'm excited about seeing all my old friends from school last year, and meeting new ones."

Jake Gottlieb, who is also entering fifth grade at Eisenhower Intermediate, was prepared with new bright red Nike sneakers he had personalized with his last name, and said he is particularly excited about the most important amenity in the school—air conditioning.

"I'm kind of excited," he said, shrugging as he waited at the stop with Megan. "I'm excited about air conditioning in the classrooms, which is only in the new wing where I am."

Bradley Gardens Primary School, Jake said, did not have air conditioning, and it was often very hot last year.

Both Megan and Jake said they spent the days leading up to the first day buying their school supplies and new clothes, and putting everything together in their backpacks so they would be ready in the morning.

"We went to the school supplies store, and I packed the night before to make sure I had everything," Megan said. "And I took a tour of the school, which helped with my nerves."

For fifth grader Jerry Kong, who was also waiting with Megan and Jake, he prepared for the first day the night before as well, and was just excited to see all his friends again at school.

"But I was a bit drowsy this morning," he said. "It's hard to get back into it."

For their parents, they are excited to see their kids begin at a new school.

"I'm excited for her, and I know she's going to have a great year," said Donna Curry, Megan's mother.

But all three parents echoed each other in saying that it is time for the summer to end, and the children to return to school.

"It is not too hard to get used to it being the time for them to go back," Curry said with a laugh.

Xiaohong Kong, Jerry's mother, agreed.

"I'm happy about it," she said with a smile. "It's not strange to send them off to school."

Stuart Gottlieb said it does make life a little quieter once he sees his kids, including Jake, off to school at the start of the year.

"It's OK for me to get rid of my kids," he said with a laugh.

But, Gottlieb said, he is also happy for his son to start a new school, and start a new chapter of his life.

"It's fine, but the kids are growing up too fast," he said. "I'm excited for him."

Just down the road—at the corner of Milltown Road and Brighton Avenue—several parents watched their children board the bus bound for Bradley Gardens Primary School.

"I'm going to miss the kids, but it's much more relaxing, and I have more free time," said Denise Shaughnessy, whose daughters—first grader Jillian and fourth grader Gina—all boarded the bus that morning, leaving her with her third daughter, McKella, who is not yet old enough for school.

Shaughnessy said the kids were excited to be heading off to school, meeting their teachers, learning their schedules and seeing all their friends again.

"They were talking at the bus stop about their teachers, and seeing if they were in the same classes," she said. "They would see other friends and wave to each other."

No one, Shaughnessy said, was nervous to be heading off on the first day.

"A few years back maybe they were, but our kids are past that," she said.

Gabriel Soto, who saw his daughter Veronica off at the same bus stop, said he watched her prepare the night before for the first day, putting items in her backpack and getting ready to go.

But for both Soto and Shaughnessy, they believe heading back to school is the best thing for the children, as they finally are back on a schedule each day.

"Now Veronica has something to do in the daytime," Soto said. "When she gets home, she plays a little, does her homework and goes to bed. The summertime is nice, but we all have to work."

"We all go our own ways again," Shaughnessy added.

For Soto, it is strange that the house is emptier without his daughter around, but he knows that getting back into the routine is the best thing.

"We are excited for what's going on around us," he said. "We take everything one day at a time. But going off to school is normal."