Sixth grader Jayden Burnett walked into John Lewis Middle School for the first time as a student on the initial of classes apprehensive about the bigger building with approximately five times the students he experienced in elementary school.
“I’m scared,” Jayden said. “This place is much bigger.”
With a plan in mind to soothe his fears, Jayden said he is ready to begin his new experience as he walked to his first class with schedule in hand.
“I’m going to stay out of trouble and follow directions,” Jayden said.
Jayden was one of approximately 14,000 students attending their first day of the 2023-2024 school year in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Monday ready to experience the next step in their education.
Lewis Principal Molly Schaefer said Jayden’s trepidation is very normal for a youngster moving into middle school from the primary grades. She was also pleased with his behavioral attitude.
“Any sixth grader who says they are not afraid on the first school is not being honest about their feelings,” Schaefer said. “Within a few days, they’ll be comfortable.”
District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia, who was visiting many of the schools Monday, was at Lewis as students were arriving. She said she liked Jayden’s comments and had advice for youngsters this year about school safety.
“I encourage all students to do the right thing to have a successful school year and if they encounter a problem they should tell someone,” Plascencia said. “If you see something, say something because we all play an important part keeping schools safe.”
Globie Joseph and Wilson Pereira brought their first grader to the initial day of class at Clearview Elementary School. Their daughter began developing reading skills in kindergarten and Joseph said she is expecting more this year.
“She started reading last year,” Joseph said. “I hope the teacher (this year) will help her to read more. Reading is very important.”
District 60 Board of Education President Brandon Ewing was standing outside Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School before class began. He was there as a parent bringing his second grader to his first day of class.
“It’s always exciting the first day of school,” Ewing said. “I always enjoy the first day. It’s an important day in our household. We want to make sure the morning is as uncomplicated as possible.”
With another year further away from the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, Plascencia said district officials now know the pockets of missed learning while students studied remotely at home during the 2021-2022 term and were in a hybrid model the following school year. They are prepared to close the gap.
“We’re anticipating a smoother year coming out of the pandemic,” Plascencia said. “We know the academic and social emotional gaps, and we are providing adequate support so students achieve their academic goal.”
Schaefer said Lewis is piloting a new schedule as the first middle school where bells will not ring to signal it is time for students to move from one class to another. Teachers will have an eye on the clock and when a period ends, the instructor will take the lead.
“The teacher will walk the students part of the way to their next class,” Schaefer said. “Their next teacher will meet them in the hall the rest of the way. It will be calmer and safer. There will be more time for learning.”
Instead of six periods in a day, Schaefer said there are now four with each student getting a more concentrated dose of a subject like language arts, math, science or social studies. The amount of time spent on each subject will remain the same each week.
Parents bringing their children to Cooke Elementary School experienced a new parking lot and driveway while seeing the two new playgrounds where their children will play at recess or other appropriate times.
Cooke Principal Stephanie Jensen said the new parking lot and driveway where students leave the bus to go into the building will enhance safety. The playgrounds will give the youngsters an experience they did not have with the older equipment.
“There are more things for them to do,” Jensen said. “They’re going to like the feel of playing on the new equipment.”
