It was a bright yet mild morning Tuesday when a yellow bus parked in front of Marion Hoyer and the many other eager parents gathered at Dryden School.
Steadying a video camera on her shoulder, the Arlington Heights mother aimed at the stream of youngsters pouring through the doorway and zoomed in on her 5-year-old daughter, Jenny.
”How was the bus ride?” she asked.
”What`s your teacher`s name? Do you remember?
”Got your name tag on? Oh, Jenny, let me see your name tag.”
Hoyer said Jenny picked out her pencils and knapsack during a recent shopping trip, laid out her clothing the night before and even dressed herself that morning for the first time.
She explained that she didn`t drive Jenny to school because she wanted her daughter to have the first-day, first-bus ride experience with the other pupils.
Leaning over, Hoyer asked Jenny if she was enjoying her first day of school.
But the girl didn`t answer. She cocked her head, tugged her pink and black dress and grinned for the camera.
The significance of the first day of school seemed lost on Jenny and many other kindergarteners. But the milestone event didn`t escape the mothers and fathers, many of whom said they were more sentimental and anxious than their children.
”I`m remembering back when I went to school on my first day,” Hoyer said. ”I was so nervous I threw up. But she`s handling it well. It`s something I`ve got to deal with.”
Variations of the first-day scenario were played out in schools throughout Arlington Heights District 25, which reopened classes Tuesday. And it will be repeated during the next two weeks as classes resume at schools throughout the Chicago area.
First-day jitters are expected to be the most serious problem parents and school officials will have to face on this year`s opening day. No teacher walkouts are expected this year.
Even Elgin-area Unit District 46, which has endured seven strikes in 20 years, is expected to start on time. The teachers union Tuesday night was expected to approve a two-year contract, ensuring that schools will reopen Monday.
Tuesday was also a nervous day for Dryden teachers and administrators, who this year are temporarily housing the 362 pupils in kindergarten through 5th graders at the nearby Dunton School while the Dryden building is being renovated.
Dryden teachers reported few cases of homesickness and only one outburst of tears from their pupils Tuesday.
”It was like an organized state of confusion today,” said Dryden principal Nancy Beckley.
But some 6th graders across town at South Middle School, many of whom graduated from Dryden in June, were expressing apprehension about their new-school experience.
”At first I was nervous in the morning,” said Bonnie Neimyjski, 11, who was struggling to get into her locker. ”I don`t know, I just liked Dryden.” Other students, though, said they were glad to be back in school, even though it spells the end of summer.
”I wouldn`t mind having a longer summer because there wasn`t any nice weather really this summer,” said Lisa Lewandowski, 12, a 7th grader. ”But I`m not disappointed that it`s starting. There`s nothing to do in the summer.”
Kindergarteners in Jody Stanhope`s class at Dryden, however, did have an eventful summer, judging from the introductions they gave Tuesday.
The pupils one by one rose from their spots on the carpet and told about swimming at beaches, visiting Great America amusement park and mountain climbing.
One boy, wearing black shorts and a T-shirt, refused to move or speak. Stanhope gently coaxed him with, ”Your mother said there`s something you like to do. You like to ride your bike. Would you like to tell us what color it is?”
The boy walked over to Stanhope, smiled and said, ”I like riding my bike. It`s blue and black.”
Stanhope later said an important quality for any kindergarten teacher is the ability to make pupils feel comfortable in their new setting.
Dryden officials were trying to make the pupils` parents feel more at ease, too. While pupils were in class, parents of kindergarteners were sipping tea and socializing in a nearby room.
”I`m sad. He`s growing up so fast,” said Connie Gardiner, referring to her son Ross.
Gardiner recalled fond memories of her kindergarten year and said that Tuesday was the beginning of a whole new world for Ross. But she had opted against breaking out the camera and video recorder.
”I don`t want it to be such a big deal for Ross,” Gardiner said. ”That would make him feel like, `What am I getting myself into?` ”
