Students and teachers ready for classes to start
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. » Saratoga Springs City School District is set to open its doors Wednesday as students return after summer break.
However, at elementary schools throughout the district Tuesday students had the opportunity to meet teachers, drop off school supplies and mingle with classmates.
“Parents and children drop off their school supplies, so that when they are on the bus or coming in the morning they don’t have to worry about it on the first day and they see their teacher and locate their desks and locker here,” explained Lake Avenue Elementary School Principal Barbara Messier.
“We’ re an old high school, so the lockers are still here and the kids use those instead of cubbies.”
Messier explained how much the children at Lake Avenue enjoy having their own locker.
“They love it. It’s so unique to this elementary school ...” said Messier. “No locks are on them except for fifth- grade, and they only put them on there so they can get used to middle school.”
Messier sees a benefit in having children visit their classes the day before school technically begins. The middle and high school offer a similar experience with orientations for new students, as well as a walk- through of a student’s class schedule.
“We talk about the first day so much. There’s so much preparation at home. Getting them new outfits, all the supplies and talking about everything and then children get anxious,” said Messier.
“[ We’re] trying to relieve that by getting that all over with the day before and then they can see their classmates. I feel like it helps them not too be so anxious on the first day.”
Messier begins her 17th year at Lake Avenue. She understands the excitement surrounding the beginning of school.
“It’s just amazing how excited everyone of us gets even though we’ve had so many years of first days but you always think about what you’re going to wear, how everything is going to align in the classroom for everyone,” said Messier. “We had our first staff meeting [ Tuesday morning] and everybody is just ready to roll — got their class list, got everything set up.”
One fifth- grade teacher, Kristin Passaretti, begins her 20th year as a teacher. She said she never stopped planning this summer for her 21 students. Passaretti’s excited for many things as the school year begins.
“Fresh new faces, new fun things to do. In fifth grade we do outdoor education, so the kids go camping at the end of September, so I love getting ready for that,” said Passaretti. “Just new kids, new everything.”
The school at Lake Avenue has 400 students. The school even created a video showing what the school’s mascot, Cannonball, did all summer without friends: https:// www. youtube. com/ watch? v= x6hYJNkj5L0& fe ature= youtu. be
The message for Messier remains the same — for each student to have the best possible learning experience.
Messier has experienced first day of school year after year, but nomatter the year she remains just as excited.
“I get just as excited the night before. I cannot sleep,” said Messier. “It’s just a grand way to start the school year with happy faces and everybody’s excited.”