The first day of school Wednesday in the Tukwila School District went off like clockwork – and with the usual tears of parents and the bewilderment of kindergartners.
Principals at the district’s five schools reported no problems during the day, according to Sara Niegowski, the district’s spokeswoman.
The district is expecting about 2,900 students this year, about the same as last year. The official student count comes in early October.
At Cascade View Elementary School, the staff was everywhere, lists in hands, to get the students lined up with their teachers, followed by a short walk to their classrooms and then breakfast at their desks.
Principal Jeff Baker has nine first days under his belt at Cascade View. A sea of kids behind him, he said the school has the routine down pat.
But there were still bewildered looks for some students, especially the kindergartners. For many students at Cascade View – and not just the kindergartners – this is the first time they’ve attend a school in America as many are immigrants.
But some first timers took the whole morning in stride.
Beccah Walden arrived with her parents William and Sarah and sister Sandy. (Sandy, Beccah and Sarah are in the photo below.)
What do you think about going to kindergarten?
“It’s great,” Beccah said.
Are you scared? “No.”
Are you happy? “Yes.”
What did her big sister tell her?
“It’s going to be fun and you are going to have lots of friends.”
