Another new year
Thousands return to school at Burton, PUSD sites
Summer vacations have come to an end for most kids in the Porterville area, and Thursday morning thousands of kids woke up anxious, nervous and ready to make their way to school and meet their new teacher for the academic year.
On Wednesday Aug. 8 Pleasant View and Rockford School District began the academic year just one day before Porterville Unified School District, Burton School District, Springville Union School District, Strathmore Union Elementary School District, Hope School District and Sunnyside Union School District kicked off the new 2018-19 school year.
At West Putnam Elementary School, students waited outside the gates as staff placed movable boards displaying order of grades, the teachers names, classroom and student names below. The scene was full of colorful backpacks, new shoes, clothes and kids holding their parents’ hands looking for classrooms as they ran into their fellow classmates.
In Mrs. Rosa Garcia’s kindergarten class, 24 excited and nervous young students prepared for their second week of
school as they enjoyed from a breakfast meal in the classroom.
Kindergartners attended CAMP last week to get accustomed to school and meet their teacher so they could be ready and prepared for the first day of school.
As Garcia instructed the students to trace numbers and letters she mentioned she is learning about each student’s needs, abilities and personalities so she can work with them based on who they are.
“I see them as a blank notebook, opened and willing to learn and believe in what ever I tell them,” Garcia said, adding it is a big responsibility, but she loves the idea of being able to influencing young minds and helping to shape them into successful students. “Today I am going to give them a tour around campus so they know where the office is at, where the cafeteria is at, the library and places they need to know about on campus.”
Garcia says she loves being a kindergarten teacher because each year is a new beginning since everything the kids do is new to them.
“It’s a new era for kindergartners,” said Garcia. “They are learning how to grab a pencil, and just in general they are learning what school is and where everything is at.”
Student’s Rodolfo and Carolina were eager for class to start after finishing their breakfast and tracing their numbers.
“It’s exciting to see the different type of learners,” said Garcia. “I hope the students enjoy the academic year.”
Lissa Lamb, principal at West Putnam, walked around campus greeting and welcoming parents and students, showing her excitement as they were walked into classrooms.
“For the most part our enrollment rates have stayed the same, but over the course of the month we will get lots of parents coming in and enrolling the kids,” said Lamb, explaining they will keep enrolling students until after Labor Day. “There is still that mindset for a lot of people that school starts after Labor Day.”
Lamb said she knows the community where WPE is located, and understands many parents work in the fields, and some don’t have the time or resources to enroll their kids.
“I hope to really empower students so that they can ignite their passions and interests to have engagement,” said Lamb. “We are trying to reinvent ourselves to what we can do to support our students emotionally and academically.”
WPE is constantly working in new curriculum guides, and the district is supporting the teachers in making sure students receive the best education possible, said Lamb.
Meanwhile at the Porterville Military Academy, right as you turn into the school’s parking lots, parents and students were greeted by student cadets and Principal Doug Ihmels.
PMA started the year with 170 cadets enrolled, who were all seated outside the basketball courts, waiting to learn their daily routine for the rest of the year.
“This is the first time students will be walking into the ‘Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory,’” joked Ihmels. “Students will be receiving their uniforms, their gear and practicing formation to get accustomed to the PMA culture.”
Karina Jorge, who was waiting in line with Emiliano Avila to sign in and receive a packet and other documents, said she was excited for Emiliano to start.
“I think this school will be a good experience for my kid, especially now that he is going into his teen years,” said Jorge. “It will help him in that best way possible.”
“I’m sort of excited because its a new school,” said Emiliano as he stood in line. “It’s a new beginning for me, new friends and new everything.”
Thursday and Friday cadets did not go into classes, instead spending time with adult sergeants in charge, who taught them the culture of the academy, such as formation, where to report, how to address sergeants and officers, and overall expectations.
PMA cadets received their physical education uniforms, also known as C class uniforms. Ihmels said the dress uniforms and backpacks are on their way.
Next week Thursday through Sunday they will also be heading to the National Guard Training Base in San Luis Obispo, where they will learn more about the military aspects and more training.
Next week Lindsay Unified School District and Woodville Union School District will begin classes Aug. 13. Ducor Union Elementary School District and Alta Vista Elementary School District start school on Aug. 15 and Terra Bella Union School District on Aug. 16.