“We’re going to have a great year,” said school counselor Marykate Underwood, one of the first staff members on the scene. “We want everyone to start the day with smiles.”
About 850 students of Bay District’s roughly 27,000 students started the first day of the school year Tuesday at Patronis Elementary.
Climbing on benches, posing in front of the school’s marquee and grabbing a faculty or staff member for a cameo — the front of the school was a stage for parents to capture their child’s first day.
“They’re so excited to see their friends,” said Shannon Williams, mother of first grade identical twins Beau and Gage Williams. “And they have so many friends that they didn’t get last year, that they’ll have this year.”
The boys are one of eight sets of twins at the school this year — seven sets in kindergarten alone.
It was obvious Gage was the social butterfly of the pair. Colorful necklaces and bracelets made of rubber bands were crafted by his own hands, something his brother “doesn’t know how to do yet.”
But, still, “sometimes” people confuse Gage for Beau, Gage said.
Siblings played a role in the morning’s reception. Children too young for school tagged alongside parents, perhaps unaware of what was happening.
“She’s sad because she’s going to miss her baby brother,” Holly Gardner said of her first grade child, Charlotte Gardner. “But she’s ready for it — to get out some of that energy.”
Then, with a jump of excitement and a yank at her mom’s arm, the two quickly disappeared into the crowd traveling the hallway near the school entrance.
Younger sibling and preschooler Isla Buxton sent her 5-year-old brother, Finn Buxton, off to his classroom with “a huge hug and kiss,” said Karen Buxton, the children’s mother.
“It affected me yesterday more than it did today,” she said. “I guess because of meeting the teacher, filling out the paperwork right then and things.
“Our son, Finn, he just went right in and he was just fine,” she added. “And since he was OK, it made me feel better.”
Buxton, her husband Justin Buxton and Isla attended Patronis’ Boo-hoo, Ya-hoo breakfast for parents of kindergartners.
“It can be an emotional time for parents,” said Jennifer Smith, president of the school’s parent-teacher organization. “The emotional ones are more just the thought of them being sad growing up.
“It looks like there’s more celebratory parents today,” she added.
“Everybody is smiling and happy,” said Principal Ella Spivey. “It’s like Christmas morning.”
It was a perfect way to start the school year, Spivey said, and the focus throughout the year will be on student achievement and maintaining Patronis’ A grade.
“For me, I’m especially happy,” she added, noting she recently returned from a lengthy hiatus while caring for her son, who is undergoing leukemia treatment. “I’m happy he’s doing well and that he’s doing well enough that I can start school.”