Email
Print
School officials overcome first-day jitters
photo by James Nix
A.L. Brown students change classes on the first day of school Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: August 26, 2009
For many, the first day of school is the day after a sleepless night. And that is not just for the students.
"Last night was horrific," said Quay Lowder, a fifth-grade teacher at Carl A. Furr Elementary School, who has been teaching for about 20 years. "We have jitters. Nobody sleeps the night before."
Tuesday was the first day of 2009-10 year for Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City school systems.
Lowder began her day at 5:30 a.m. and greeted her new students around 7:30 a.m. As they arrived, the students sat down quietly and began solving math problems.
"In the beginning, they are very quiet and nervous," Lowder said. "When we get going in activities, I think they will open up."
After about 20 years of teaching, Lowder said she thinks of several things when it comes to the first day of school.
She recalled trying to balance her own children and her students and the times when she had embarrassing moments in front of her class.
And after her years of experience, Lowder said she still has unpredictable moments, such as a day when she was so involved in a lesson, that she was late taking her students to lunch.
"Those are the first-day glitches that happen to veterans, as well," Lowder said.
Other veteran teachers at Furr recalled the funny moments they have seen during past first days of school.
Joyce Holman, a kindergarten teacher who has more than 30 years of experience, said one of the funniest moments occurred when she had twins in her class. One of her students who had never seen twins before walked in and reacted in a memorable way.
"He was blown away," Holman said. "He looked at one and then another and backed away. He said, 'Dang! Do you know you have the same face?' The twins are now in high school, and I'll never forget that fellow."
For many teachers and students, the first day of school was fairly routine, but there were other firsts that occurred on Tuesday.
It was the first school day that A.L. Brown High School implemented its full uniform policy, which now requires students to wear pants, shorts, skirts or skorts of a twill-like material and be black, navy blue or khaki colored.
Students were also prohibited from wearing bedroom shoes, flip flops or athletic sandals and were required to wear belts if they had belt loops.
Since 2006, students have been required to wear a collared shirt that is white, gray, navy blue or green. While some students were not happy about the full uniform policy, others said having a partial uniform policy in the past helped them make the adjustment.
"I probably wouldn't be okay (with it) if they went from no uniforms to this," said Jamie Biggerstaff, a senior at A.L. Brown.
New Brown principal, Kevin Garay, said he was pleased with how well the students adjusted, adding that no one had to be sent home for violating the policy.
"I told them, when I did the morning announcements, that I was really proud of them," Garay said. "That's what I'll remember (about today). They stepped up and did what we asked."
Tuesday was also the first ever day of school for the staff and about 770 students at the new Cox Mill High School. Principal Todd Smith said the day went smoothly.
"It's been great to see the school filled with students," Smith said. "Every first day is exciting, but this is a special year for us as a new school."
Whether it was a day to celebrate the opening of a new school, the first time to park in the senior lot, or if it was just a routine day, one thing is for sure, the school year has begun.
"We have a lot to do in 180 days," Lowder said.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Click a region for news specific to that area.
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
Advertisement
