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Schools

First school day: Smiles overcome rough spots

Students quickly pick up routine at Sarah Smith primary campus

Buckhead Patch Frugal Family writer Lisa Noojin talks about the first day of school.

Excitement was in the air today as students filled the halls of

Wide eyes, and sometimes teary ones, made it easy to spot the little ones who were starting kindergarten this year. The older children were happy waving to old friends, and most seemed eager to get the new year started.

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There was an almost entertaining air among Rising First Graders that they were no longer the “new kids"  and the Rising Second Graders just as pleased to be the oldest ones now on campus. Third through fifth graders attend

So, while the first day of school is full of energy and intrigue, this day also requires much preparation and planning, which is tough to muster after the lazy days of summer. Packing lunches, filling in forms and picking out first day clothing require Herculean effort at this stage, not to mention patience. With more than one student in the house, even the simplest decisions like carpool or bus transportation somehow transform into a logistical nightmare.

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However, once we walked through the front doors, it felt like old home week. That few minutes of running late and screaming down the driveway didn’t seem to matter anymore. Familiar faces brought smiles and hugs, and children (who arrived on time) were nestled in their seats, practicing their worksheets as if they had been in school for weeks. As overwhelming as these preparatory tasks were, by the end of the week we’ll all be in our routines, and I’m sure I will laugh at myself on the inside, at how daunting this process seemed to be. 

We’re always sad to see summer come to a close. Yet, despite waking up to an alarm instead of the sun, dealing with more traffic, and battling with our children and that afternoon homework, I think we all cherish the structure, friendships and more importantly, the delight in seeing our children embark on another milestone in their young lives as they continue to grow personally and academically in a nurturing, scholarly environment.

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