Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Sept/Oct 2015 | Page 13

Smiles, tears, anxiety – all part of the first day of school

“Last year I remember going
UCPSchools welcomed
into my grade-level planning,
approximately 42,000 students to
and honestly, I didn’t know
the 2015-16 school year.
what anyone was talking about.
“I visited many schools
The jargon you use here is so
today and I saw students
different.”
engaged in learning and they
On the middle school level,
were enthusiastic,” said UCPS
even though the students are
Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis.
older, the job for administrators
“I’m looking forward to another
is very similar. Cuthbertson
successful school year.”
Middle School principal Kevin
For Victoria Robertson, a
Nesteruk said the first day
second-grade teacher at Wesley
went as planned for his 1,160
Chapel Elementary, the day held
students, with no major glitches
excitement about meeting her
to mark the start of the new
new students and confidence
school year.
born from being in her second
“The biggest challenge
year as a Visiting International
is making sure all our kids’
Faculty educator from Glasgow,
schedules are correct and their
Scotland.
transportation routes are all set;
For Donnie Niedzialek, an
Victoria Robertson, a second-grade teacher at Wesley Chapel
making sure transportation is
Elementary, assists one of her students on the first day of school.
Academically, Intellectually and
squared away and all the parents
Gifted sixth-grade math teacher
are notified,” Nesteruk said.
at Cuthbertson Middle School,
Sixth-grade math teacher
the day was bitter sweet because
Donnie Niedzialek said it was
he’s retiring after the school year.
easy to make the decision to
As with many parents,
retire this year, but it won’t be
Johanna and Scot Cloward, there
easy not seeing the students.
was anxiety as they brought their
“I will miss the kids. They
5-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, for
are so funny. They make me
her first day of school at Wesley
laugh. Middle school is not for
Chapel Elementary. “It’s scary
everybody, but I love it. I find
dropping off your daughter and
them to be funny, energizing.
she’s so small,” Scot said.
They keep me young.”
For Jocelyn, however, the day
Mr. N, as he’s called, has
couldn’t have gotten much better.
Students arrive at Cuthbertson
always taught sixth grade,
“I don’t know what’s going to
Students are greeted at
Middle School on the first day of
which he feels is poetic. “I was
Cuthbertson High School with
happen today, but I’m excited. I
the 2015-16 school year.
rock and roll music.
a struggling sixth grader and
know I’m going to color.”
nobody took an interest in me
Wesley Chapel Elementary
Henderson, 8, was very happy about coming
until
the
ninth
grade. So I struggled in the
assistant principal Elisha Bauss said even
back to school.
sixth,
seventh
and
eighth grades. Someone
though parents bring their kindergarten
“I was happy to see all my friends,”
took
an
interest
in
me
in ninth grade. Here
students on a staggered schedule, the first
Hadley said. “And I like math a lot. I’m not
I
am
teaching
the
very
grade when I began
day of school is usually the busiest day.
looking forward to homework, but I was glad
to
struggle
so
much.
That’s
why I enjoy this
“We sign them in and make sure they
for school to start. All of our friends are here,
so
much.
I’ve
got
that
special
empathy for
have all their paperwork, how they’re
we get to learn more and we get older. I like
them.”
getting home from school today,” Bauss
to get older. I also get taller. I’m almost up to
Students at Cuthbertson High School were
said. “We take a picture for the first day of
my sister and she’s 17.”
kindergarten. Right now we have everyone
Hadley’s principal Lynn Cole said the start greeted with smiles and music when they
signed in so they’re going to gather all the
of the school year went quite well for her 612 returned to school. “We had our rock band
playing in the cafeteria, our drummers
kindergarten students up and they’re going
students.
to wave good bye to mom and dad and we’re “Our car rider line was perfect,” Cole said. playing outside to welcome our bus riders,
and student council members at all doors
taking them to class.”
“Everybody was here. Everybody was happy.
with morning greetings, good wishes, and
Bauss’ son, Owen, started his first day
I think we’re off to a great start.”
candy for all the students coming in,” said
at Wesley Chapel Elementary as well, but
Scotland native Victoria Robertson looks
Cuthbertson’s media coordinator Paula
waving good-bye to him was probably a little
forward to getting to know her second-grade
Tautfest.
easier on her than the other parents.
students, adding that this year she doesn’t
--This article was written by Deb Coates
“Just knowing I’m here in the building
have the anxiety levels she had when first
Bledsoe and provided courtesy of the
with him makes it easier,” Bauss said. “And
coming to America to teach.
Communications Office of the Union County
I’m too busy to cry right now,” she joked.
“It’s such a nice feeling this year, because Public Schools.
Marvin Elementary second grader Hadley
I know what to expect,” Robertson said.

Parent Teacher Magazine • Sept/Oct 2015 • 11