First Day Of School Brings Butterflies For Those New To High School, Middle School, And Kindergarten

Monday, September 13 marks the first day of school for those in the Montclair School District. For high school freshmen, it's a time for jitters. For new kindergartners, it's a time to try out new backpacks. For new middle school students, it's a time to wonder what it will be like to attend school with teenagers. And it's a new year for parents, too, who have no idea what the coming months will bring.

Montclair Patch spoke to three students heading off for new adventures in new environments on Monday.

Meet Abigail Hickok, 14, who attended Watchung and then Mount Hebron and who now heads off for her first day at Montclair High School on Monday. (School day is from 7:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

Q. You live in Upper Montclair. How will you get to school every day?

A. I'm going in a carpool with some friends. On some nice days I may walk home after school.

Q. Will you sign up for any after-school activities?

A. I do want to do the Robotics Club. There is a photography club. I'm not really into that but I thought it might be fun. They sent us a big package with all the clubs listed.

Q. How was the freshman orientation?

A. Kind of boring. I learned where my homeroom is, so that's good. I knew one girl from Mount Hebron. There was a lot of emphasis on attendance and the dress code. It sounds like they will be stricter on the dress code this year.

Q. Will you go to bed at a different time this year?

A. I usually go to bed at 9:30 even though I don't fall asleep until around 10 or 10:30. And I'll do the same this year I think.

Q. Will you wear something in particular for your first day?

A. I haven't decided what to wear. I haven't really thought about it.

Q. So how do you feel, in general, about going off to high school?

A. I'm a little bit nervous. The school is a lot bigger. But mostly I'm excited.

And how does mom feel?

Emily Grand, mother of Abigail, says: "I'm excited for Abigail — this is an age where kids can really learn a lot and have big accomplishments — but I'm scared too because it is also an age where kids can get into big trouble. I hope we've laid a good foundation for her. It also makes me ask, "how did I get so old?!"

Meet Emma Weeden, 11, who attended Bradford and who now heads off for her first day at Glenfield Middle School on Monday. (School day is from 7:40 a.m. to 2:08 p.m.)

Q. How do you think middle school will be different?

A. The teachers will be more serious, there will be more work, and I'll be going to school with teenagers.

Q. Will your bedtime change this year?

A. No, because Glenfield starts almost an hour earlier than elementary school, and my mom is strict with bedtimes.

Q. How will you be getting to school each day?

A. On the school bus. Luckily for me, it stops right at the corner of my house.

Q. Do you already know what extracurricular activities you'll do this fall?

A. Soccer, piano, and possibly jewelry-making at Rock-Paper-Scissors, which is very close to Glenfield.

Q. Are you looking forward to anything in particular at Glenfield?

A. Everything! I'm really looking forward to it.

And how does mom feel?

Susan Weeden, mother of Emma, says: "New place, new people, new experiences — I'm both excited and nervous for Emma, and part of me wishes I could hold her hand tomorrow as she walks through Glenfield's big doors, but I also know that most middle schoolers would never stand for that, and she is no exception!"

Meet McKenzie Stephens, 11, who attended Hillside and who just started sixth grade at Lacordaire Academy on Thursday. (School day is from 8:15 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.)

Q. So how did you feel heading off to school?

A. I don't think it was fun. I had butterflies. I was happy and nervous at the same time. I drank a lot of water before I went to school.

Q. And so how was the first day?

A. I think they are very strict and tough and serious about homework. I already have homework on my first night. I have to get five book covers and do five essays ... but by Monday. I have so much homework. I'm stressed.

Q. Will you do any after-school actvities?

A. They are talking about doing an environmental club and I will do that. I also do travel soccer. I want to be in the school play and talent show.

Q. How do you get to school?

A. I will walk every day.

Q. Do you take your lunch or buy lunch at school?

A. I'm bringing lunch because we eat in our classroom ... they don't have a cafeteria at the school.

Q. Are you going to bed earlier?

A. I went to bed at 8:30 last year and now it's 9 and I'm working on getting it to be 9:30. I used to wake up at 7:30 or 7:45 and now it's 6:45.

Meet Jackson Simon, 5, who attended Parkside Montessori and who now heads off for his first day of kindergarten at Nishuane on Monday. (School day is from 9:20 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.)

Q. Are you excited about starting school?

A. No. It's going to be boring. You have to take a nap.

Q. Are your friends going to be at Nishuane?

A. (Mom says lots of his friends from Parkside will be going to Nishuane.)

Q. Do you have something special you plan to wear on your first day?

A. I like Spiderman. I'm going to wear my Spiderman t-shirt. I have a new Spiderman backpack. I used to like Ben 10. Now I like Spiderman.

Q. How are you getting to school?

A. Bus.

Q. Will you be going to bed earlier now?

A. (Mom says he went to bed at 8 p.m. last year and will go to bed around 8:30 p.m. this year.)

And how does Mom feel?

Sidney Simon, mother of Jackson, says: "I'm so excited that Jackson is going to Kindergarten for two reasons. The first is that he is more than ready for this next phase of his life and I also love the idea of not paying preschool tuition!"