Learning to let go on the first day of school

It wasn't easy coaxing 5-year-old Olivia Grayson onto the school bus Thursday morning.

Her little brother, 2-year-old Ethan, wanted to go. But Olivia wasn't sure she was ready for her first day of kindergarten at the Primary Annex in Jackson.

"We sort of had to force her on the bus," said LeeAnn Grayson, Olivia's mother. "I think I'm just as nervous as she is."

When Olivia later disembarked from the bus at the Annex, she found her mother, Ethan and two grandparents waiting with cameras and waving a poster decorated with family photographs.

It was difficult to tell who was suffering from first-day anxiety more -- the Annex's 155 kindergartners or their teary-eyed parents.

The opening day of the 2003-04 school year went by without any major hitches at the Primary Annex and the other 10 schools in the Jackson School District.

"Its kind of like we just picked up where we left off last year," said Dr. Ron Anderson, Jackson School District superintendent. "I imagine the staff is exhausted, but from what I've heard and seen, everything was great."

After a breakfast of his favorite scrambled eggs and biscuits, 5-year-old Lucas Anderson couldn't wait for school to start.

"He was ready to go, but I cried," said Wendy Anderson, Lucas' mother. "It's a big step. I didn't want to give him up."

By 10 a.m., the Primary Annex was calm once again. Parents had reluctantly gone of their way, and students were happily engaged in classroom activities.

After three years as principal at the Annex, Andrew Rogers is accustomed to the emotional roller coaster the first day of kindergarten can become.

"It's an experience. Parents really want to be there for it," Rogers said. "They want to stand around and take pictures, but it really clogs things up for us."

There were no criers at Orchard Elementary, according to principal Clay Vangilder. In fact, things went so well on the first day it was scary, he said.

"Some of the teachers have said they're a little worn out, but everything's been good," Vangilder said. "I'm just trying to stay out of the way."

Officials at other Jackson schools also reported smooth starts Thursday.

"If the first day is an indicator for the rest of the year, we're going to have a great year," said Vince Powell, assistant principal at Jackson High School.

cclark@semissourian.com

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