Their First Days

Dear Friends,

As I arrived to school today, the first "official" teacher work day, I found myself thinking about what I felt the first time I walked through the doors of Camden Elementary back in 1987 (according to Google, Camden's population was 607 in 1987).  I have mostly cloudy, watercolor-like memories when I think back to my half-day kindergarten experience, but there are two memories that are so very clear.

Me, 1987, First Day of School at Camden Elementary

1. My very first friend, Kinzie Brummett.  She lived maybe about a mile down the gravel road from me, which made her our closest neighbor.  Since we could attend only a half-day kindergarten, our parents took turns driving us to school.  I remember that on the first day I jumped out of the car, but Kinzie had to be pried from the back seat.  I stood at the classroom door crying because I wanted to go in so badly but couldn't go in without her.  She eventually met me at the door, and we walked in together holding hands.  We spent the next few years having pretend tea parties together on our 40 minute bus ride and then remained friends even as we graduated high school.

 2. My teacher, Mrs. Minear.  I worshipped the ground she walked on the second I walked through that door and saw her big smile.  She was soft-spoken, patient, and kind.  I remember loving every apple-stenciled outfit she wore and wanting to do my best coloring on my morning work, just hoping to hear praise.  I simply loved kindergarten and cried if I couldn't go to school because of illness.

These two memories bring me back to our kiddos who will arrive tomorrow for their first day of school ever, or their first day in a new grade level, or their first day at Carmel Elementary.  I'm thinking about the impact that their first day will have on them for the rest of their lives and it is such a humbling experience to be able to witness that.  My greatest hope is that each and every student will have something really spectacular happen to them tomorrow; perhaps a new friendship will be formed, or a memorable word of encouragement from an adult will be heard, or a feeling of success after trying something new. 

We can't wait to see our kiddos tomorrow- it's going to be a fantastic year!

P.S. I already have my outfit picked out for the first day!