‘I’m nervous’
Emotions mixed as kids and parents prepare for school
Ron Williams is a father of four and still admits he’s nervous about the upcoming school season.
“I’m nervous about him starting off in a new class and a new teacher. I’m hoping him and the teacher get along well,” Williams said referring to his youngest son, Rory MacDonald.
MacDonald, 7, is mostly excited to return to gym class, but he admits to being nervous about music class.
The Sydney resident is entering Grade 2 at Brookland Elementary.
“You get to go in a new class,” MacDonald said, “but you have to sit there until 2:15 p.m.”
Williams said that the craziest part of the school season has to be making lunches in the morning.
“They say they don’t want to go back to school but there’s excitement in their eyes when they know they’re going to meet up with their friends,” Williams said.
Williams, along with other school parents, find the expenses of school a lot.
“Having more than one child, it’s really expensive. School supplies, back-to-school clothing, lunches; it all adds up,” Williams said.
Cynthia McNeil, another Brookland Elementary mom, agrees.
“It (school expenses) has an effect on some people — not everyone can afford it. It does seem to be costly. As they get into the higher grades, it does get more costly,” McNeil said.
Siblings, Emma McNeil, 10, and Lucas McNeil, 7, are going into Grade 5 and Grade 2 this year.
“I usually like the projects,” Lucas said, while his sister said she just likes the classes.
The two said they aren’t nervous for back to school, but their mom has worries just like Williams.
“Getting into to a class they like,” McNeil said, explaining what she’s most nervous about.
Williams thinks that Brookland Elementary helps his kids by keeping their playground open after school for the kids to continue to play with their friends.
McNeil is glad to have the school’s Parent-Teacher Association. “There’s a lot of information given … a lot of help, any questions, and other parents are right there to help with answers,” McNeil said.
Starting back to school is never easy for parents and kids, from the worry of being in your friend’s class to the costly burden of providing back to school essentials for one or multiple kids.
Students from the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board start back to school on Thursday. Classes resume Wednesday in the Strait Regional School Board.