It was hard to tell who had the bigger smiles on Tuesday morning – the kids heading back to school, or their parents.
Not everyone was happy to be heading back to the classroom. Dylan said he was “nervous” - a sentiment echoed by several other young students, including Dilaanika, heading into Grade 2, and sister Jessie, going into Kindergarten.
For the sisters, it was not only a new school year, but a new school; they recently moved to Bradford.
“Nervous, but excited,” Dilaanika said.
Others were just happy to be coming back, and reconnecting with their friends after the summer break.
A few had mixed feelings
Asked how she felt about the first day of school, Brooklyn, going into Grade 2, first replied with a single syllable: ”Wah!” She then admitted that she was excited to be seeing her friends again.
Cady, who will be in Grade 5 this year, had a nearly identical response. "Not very happy, because I don’t like school,” she said, then added, “I’m looking forward to seeing my friends.”
For Eva, going into Grade 1, heading back to school was “good.” She was asked what she thought was the best part of the first day of school.
“Studying,” suggested mom Elena.
“Meeting friends,” said Eva.
Many kids were accompanied by a parent or guardian on the first day – and South Simcoe Police were on active patrol in the school zones, watching for speeders and unsafe behaviour, and making sure that the return to class was safe.
