Excitement for Returning School Children

Irish Voice News

Excitement for Returning School Children

By April Drew

AS the sun dazzled in Woodlawn on Tuesday morning, September 4, so did the faces well, most of the faces of little children whose excitement about starting school shone brightly.

As the doors of PS 19 in Woodlawn in the Bronx opened at 7:30 a.m., children from the neighboring areas poured in.

Some slightly apprehensive, others bursting with excitement, the students of PS 19 arrived in twos and threes, backpacks strapped on and uniforms neatly pressed. Some ready for another year of education, while others prepared for the transition from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten.

For several children, it was their first time setting foot in PS 19. “It’s my first day,” said eager five-year old Kara McCourt, whose delightful smile and adorable pig-tales would brighten up any teacher’s day.

Kara, who attended kindergarten last year, was energized to the last while she jumped up and down outside the school gates in anticipation of the arrival of her school friends. “My friends will be here with me soon, there is Rebecca, William and Johanna — that is Johanna with a H,” she clarified.

Kara, whose grandparents are from Sligo and Mayo, when asked what was going to happen on her first day of school said, “I have no idea, it’s a mystery.”

The choice of school backpacks for the girls all seemed to be pink. Kara had a brightly colored pink princess bag. She unzipped the bag to show-off her coloring book, pencil case and some tissues.

Others had pink Dora the Explorer bags while others lugged pink flowered bags. The boys seemed to be sticking to the traditional superheroes, with the Superman bags being most prevalent.

Third grader Eddie O’ Connor was accompanied by his dad (also called Eddie) who hails from Limerick, to school on Tuesday. Eddie Junior told the Irish Voice that he was excited about getting back to school.

“I’m a little excited but I’m really looking forward to seeing my friends,” said Eddie, who was donned in a white polo shirt and the cream school pants. Both Eddies strolled into the school, with the reassuring familiarity of a routine.

The Carroll family arrived ready for another year in school. Brid, eight, who was clearly prepared to take on third grade told the Irish Voice she couldn’t wait to see her friends again.

“I’m looking forward to meeting my new teacher too,” she said.

Younger brother, Johnny, six, was hoping that his new first grade teacher would let him paint. “I like to paint and see my friends,” he whispered.

While mom Cat said goodbye to two of her three sweethearts, she was getting her middle son, Shane, four, ready for pre-kindergarten at St. Mark’s school, only a few yards away from PS 19.

Several parents had their hands full with new and returning students in floods of tears. One upset mom couldn’t stand her son crying any longer and decided against sending him to school.

“I can’t today. He is breaking my heart. I’ll try again tomorrow,” she said, while she loaded her son back into the car.

Other parents were left standing breathless and pale, as their first child couldn’t wait to get inside the doors.

“He is only just five and all he has been talking about all summer is going to big school,” said Laurel Brien, who couldn’t help shedding a tear when her son Luke took off after seeing a friend. “And there was me worried that he would be the one crying,” she laughs.

For some kindergarteners, older brothers or sisters were on hand to look out for them. Joseph Kelly, 9 is a fifth grader. His sister Noreen, 5 who had a pink Dora the Explorer bag weighing her down, was looking very shy and unsure about making the trek up the steps into the large open building to begin her first day of school.

Joseph, who was very excited to see his friends after a long summer told the Irish Voice that he was going to look after his younger sister in school.

Little Brenda Dowling Kane, 6, whose farther, David, is from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, was ready to reunite with her kindergarten friends in first grade but she was slightly apprehensive about her teacher.

“I hope the teacher is nice,” said Brenda, who also expressed a keen interest in painting. “I love painting.”

For mother Linda Myres, it wasn’t as easy as she expected dropping off her daughter Anna to second grade. She shed a few unexpected tears, while her younger daughter Emma stood by to comfort her.

The Myres, still jetlagged, were just back from vacationing in Ireland. When asked by the Irish Voice if she was excited about going back to school Anna slowly shook her head and quietly said “no.”

The older, more confident kids knew the drill. The fourth and fifth graders rushed into each other’s arms with big hugs and shouts of “how was your summer,” and the stories began while they linked arms walking up the steps for another year of education.

“What’s the rush we still have four minutes – let’s wait here and see the new kids,” said a fourth grader to her friend.

Younger kids remained by their parents’ sides, some curled around their legs, others in their arms, until a teacher came out or they recognized another child. Some became bashful and tearful; others opened up and jumped up and down with excitement.

For most kids September 4 will be a vague memory in coming weeks. For most parents, September 4, will be a proud yet poignant one.

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