Summer’s over: Clark County students back in the classroom

By Jean Reid Norman

Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 | 12:29 p.m.

Kylee Hamel was out of bed at 6 this morning and ready to head out the door by 7 a.m. for her first day of sixth grade, which began at 8 a.m. at Garrett Junior High School.

Raegan Crabtree spent an hour last night setting out the perfect outfit for her first day in Josh Newkirk’s fourth grade class at Martha P. King Elementary.

Armani Battiste was excited to get back to the Legos he had seen during orientation in his kindergarten class at Andrew Mitchell Elementary.

They were among the more than 2,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade headed back to class in Boulder City today, the first day of the new year at the four public schools. The private Grace Christian Academy started back Aug. 17.

About 300,000 students are heading back to school in the Clark County School District, the nation's fifth-largest.

Freshmen at Boulder City High School headed to the gym by 7:55 a.m. for an orientation assembly, while the upper-class members got to sleep in on the first day. They were not due in their homerooms until 11:45 a.m. for an abbreviated day of getting settled in.

Kristin Torgenson came armed with a camera and had her daughter Emma pose in front of the Garrett sign before her first day of sixth grade.

Torgenson, who also attended Garrett in her youth, said Emma was a little nervous about getting lost, but she was also excited.

“She’s probably spent the past two weeks talking about junior high,” Torgenson said.

Emma wasn’t the only new sixth grader worried about navigating the halls. Alec Howard said his greatest fears were, “that I’m going to get lost, that I’m going to forget my locker combination, that I’m going to forget which open area my classes are in and end up in the eighth grade area.”

But, he noted, he had received a letter in his locker saying he could ask any teacher any question and they would help.

Best friends Taylor Vandenberg and Madeleine Erfle, eager to start the seventh grade, said they were ready head back to school and to catch up with all their friends.

“I am planning to do better in school this year than last year,” Taylor said. “I really didn’t try last year.”

They said they remembered what it was like to be sixth graders, so “we won’t be mean.”

Cousins Bryann Pluta and Mackenzie Pluta were starting eighth and seventh grade respectively. Mackenzie just moved to Boulder City from Chicago, but she said she wasn’t nervous about attending a new school.

“She makes friends pretty quickly,” her mother, Petra Pluta said.

“I’m excited school is starting,” Bryann said. “It’s been a boring summer.”

Andrea Montes was one of several mothers getting children off to all four schools this morning. Kindergarten through second grade are at Mitchell, third through fifth at King, sixth through eighth at Garrett and ninth through 12th at Boulder City High School.

It was hectic, she said, but it helps that the schools are close together.

“I’m glad it’s finally here and I don’t have to anticipate it anymore,” she said.

Montes walked her daughter Victoria onto the King playground, where parents helped children find their teachers and line up for the morning opening.

On the way into the gate, Linda Brambley took photos of her son Zachary Sanchez, a fourth grader, and his best friend Nicholas Bangle, a fifth grader, before they disappeared onto the playground.

“I told him the first day of schools, moms can come,” she said. As she tried to find him on the playground, she said, “It’s a sea of kids.”

Minutes later, new Principal Tony Gelsone introduced himself and had a student lead the others in the Pledge of Allegiance and read announcements.

Assistant Principal Mary Scialabba led the students in the King Code of Character, encouraging the experienced fourth and fifth graders to lead the new third graders.

“I am here to learn and to support the learning of others,” they recited, many with raised right hands. “I cooperate with everyone and take responsibility for my actions. I respect myself, others and the environment, because I am a person of character.”

With that, Scialabba dismissed them, and the slightly disorganized lines of children headed for the doors.

Their parents headed for the gates, some celebrating the first day back to a normal routine.