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The children make their way through the halls of Kling Elementary, which is once again buzzing with noise — children talking, teachers calling, the echo of the first bell — at the beginning a new school year.
Last Wednesday was the first day of the 2023-2024 school year for Buena Vista City Schools, and the first day altogether for some of its students.
For Terri Flint’s kindergarten class, the first day is met with some mixed emotions.
As they filter into this classroom, they slip out of their backpacks - some sequined, at least one Minecraft themed - put their lunches on the low counter at the back of the room, and set out to find their assigned seats, with a little help from Mrs. Flint.
“Let’s see if we can find your name — do you know what M looks like? There we go — Maverick. Looks like you’re at the red table,” she says to one boy.
Maverick sits in the small red chair in front of his name and joins his classmates in what they will soon learn to call “maker time.” Today they are working with blocks, stacking them into towers until they become too high to support themselves and fall, scattering blocks across the table. Then they start again.
The teacher moves to greet another of her new students, who are standing nervously at the edge of the rug. “
“Are you nervous?” He nods, seeming on the verge of tears.
“Now,” says Mrs. Flint, turning to address the class, “who was nervous about coming to school this morning?”
About half of the class raises a hand; one girl with gold threads in her hair raises both of her hands as high as they can go.
“See? We’re all a little nervous, but we’re going to have so much fun together.”
He nods again, still looking at the ground, but leans forward into her hug.
As the last of the kindergarteners find their way into the classroom, some firstgraders slip in too, excited to say hi to their old teacher.
For the first time, the firstgraders are the oldest students at Kling this year, second grade having been moved to Enderly Heights Elementary to ease crowding.
This shift, according to Kling Principal Dr. Brenda Walton, has been a successful one.
“The shift of second grade students to Enderly helped tremendously with the overcrowding of students and staff at Kling,” she told the News-Gazette.
“It allows space for our reading specialist, speech language pathologist and other related support service providers to ensure our students are receiving a well-rounded educational program.”
For now, the kindergarteners are still working on the basics: six legs on the floor (four for the desk and two of your own), raising your hand, and how many months are in a year (guesses range from six to 100).
This is something they will learn with the help of the calendar hanging on the whiteboard, and through a song, which they are only now beginning to learn.
For assistance, Mrs. Flint puts on a video on the screen at the front of the room, which is only part of the technology that will be assisting these students throughout the year.
As Walton explained, “Students use technology in the classroom, typically an iPad. Additionally, each student is provided a Chromebook to take home.”
While the first day was certainly an exciting one for this class, the beginning of the new school year has been enjoyable for staff as well.
“Our first week of school has been very successful. Students arrive each day and are taught procedures and routines,” said Walton. “It has been exciting to see the support from families and the community as a whole.”
