CHAPTER 2: MY KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL LIFE

August 2007 the beginning of another school year, another semester, and new classmates; but most importantly it was the beginning of my school year life in Kindergarten in a new school in a new city. I was very excited preparing for my first day of school, thinking who my teachers were going to be, how my class was going to look like, who my classmates were going to be…and lots more going through my mind…but it was the excitement of just being in kindergarten that was the best feeling ever! My parents drove me to school, and as we were driving they were asking lots of questions.

Mum: Are you excited to be going to kindergarten?’ Excited about meeting new classmates?

Diana: Yes, can’t wait to see my new classroom and meet my new classmates. As I was speaking to my parents a lot was also going on in my mind as well. I was also wondering what schools Jaime and Chris would be going to as they were also starting kindergarten as well. Would they like their new school, new classroom, new classmates, would they like the school food, would they be able to make new friends and enjoy their school year…..OK….I am only in kindergarten….let me take a deep breath….I am sure they will both be OK. Although we will not be in the school we will meet during the weekend and exchange our stories about our first week of school, I thought to myself.

Dad: (Diana, can you hear us?) You will be great and enjoy it for sure.

Diana: Yes dad, as I looked out the window.

(Arriving at the entrance of the school gate)

My dad drove to the elementary school area, parked his car and got out of the car, opened the door for me, and I got out of the car and we all started walking towards the elementary school office. We went to the Chicago Elementary School office where we were met by the school principal who greeted us and welcomed us to the school. We signed in and were shown to my classroom. I was in KG1, and my teacher’s name was Mrs. Anderson. The kindergarten area was BIG, lots of toys, BIG outdoor play area, BIG cafeteria, and it got even better when I saw my classroom!! Mrs. Anderson was standing at the classroom door waiting to greet all the parents and their children. She immediately recognized who I was by looking at my face.

Mrs. Anderson: Welcome, and who do we have here? Let me guess you must be Diana!

Diana: With my shyness I lifted my face and looked at her….how did she know my name? I asked her, how do you know my name?

Mrs. Anderson: We have your picture (looking at my parents).

Mum: The school asked for all the returning and new students’ photos, that way would be easier to identify and recognize the students.

Diana: That’s cool. You have a nice name Mrs. Anderson.

Mrs. Anderson: Thank you! You are very pretty. Please welcome to my class. Have a sit anywhere. We are just waiting for a few more parents then we shall begin our meeting.

Mum and Dad: Thank you. My parents walked into the classroom.

I was so excited and amazed by the size of the classroom, the pictures, the decorations, and the fact that every student had their own cupboards where they could put their backpacks…..so so cool!! I and my curiosity, walked around the classroom, saw that the classroom even had a toilet….it felt like I was at home. There were desks that were arranged in a way that students would sit together and a circle area for story time, the same one I had in my Preschool class back in New York. Finally, lots and lots of story books on the bookshelf…I have always loved listening to stories and my parents would always read me bedtime stories that were exciting to listen, the story books had great pictures, and of course as always asked questions about the stories which I found the greatest part of listening to the story.

I returned to join my parents and sat next to my dad. A few minutes later other parents and their children started coming into the classroom. It was not until I recognized two of the parents; they were Jaime and Chris’s parents. As a happy child with a cheerful smile, I told mum and dad pulling their arms motioning them to see who just walked into our classroom.

Diana: Mum, Dad, guess who is also in my class? Looking up to see who just walked into the class.

Mum and Dad: They looked up and saw Jaime and Chris’s parents. They greeted each other with hugs, smiling and laughing in knowing that their kids were also going to be in the same school and same class as their daughter Diana. They saw Jaime and Chris and said hello to them as well.

Diana: Jaime, Chris, Yes! Are you guys also in Mrs. Anderson’s class?

Jaime and Chris: Yes we are, you?

Diana: Yes I am also in Mrs. Anderson’s class. This means we are going to be classmates for the entire year in Kindergarten.

Diana, Jaime and Chris: Yey! All three of us were jumping with happiness and joy filled with so much excitement.

I finally started believing that wishes and dreams can come true after all!! This was the best first day of my new school year and the best day of my life as a kindergarten student.

My parents were also quite happy and in some ways could sense they were relieved in knowing that Jaime and Chris were not only in the same school but in the same class as their daughter Diana. A lot of the worries they had were all washed away when they saw the joy and the happiness of the three of us jumping up and down with excitement of the news.

At 8:00 AM, the class meeting started, Mrs. Anderson introduced herself, gave an introduction of what we should expect in kindergarten for the entire semester, gave us a tour of her classroom, and the school itself. I remember very well that as the tour was going on, Jaime, Chris and I was walking side by side, holding hands, laughing away, while our parents were taking videos and pictures. We returned back to our classroom and it was time for all the parents to leave so as we could begin our classes for the day.

Mum and Dad: Diana, bye, we shall see you later in the afternoon, be good, no fighting, listen to the teacher and have fun.

Diana: I ran to my parents, gave them a hug and a kiss and waved goodbye to them. Once I saw them leave, I returned to my desk and took out what I needed for the first lesson.

Jaime, Chris and I were placed in the same sitting area with one other student whose name was Steven, quite a talkative one…we would just look at him talk and talk not saying a single word. He seemed to enjoy being the center of attention….I just shook my head and continued looking at Mrs. Anderson as she explained the agenda for today’s class.

Our class schedule looked pretty simple, fun and interesting and of course there were rules, which weren’t going to be a problem for me as rules in my family were very well observed. During snack time, lunch time and playtime I was always with Jaime and Chris and it was just so much fun and exciting, we would always do things together in class, even during reading time and when we went home we always left together. When I was not ready or prepared to go home, Jaime and Chris would always wait for me and even help me pack my stuff in my backpack and vice versa would do the same for them. It was such a wonderful feeling knowing that I had two good friends, almost like brothers I never had and this was something I told myself that I will cherish in the hope that we shall continue to be in the same class and same school forever.

Our first day of school ended on a fine note, our parents came to pick us up, my dad drove us home and all the way home, I was just raving and going on about how Mrs. Anderson is a great teacher, so caring and kind but also strict, how it was great having snack time and lunch time with Jaime and Chris, and enjoying nap time as well. The best part was the story time, Mrs. Anderson is a great story reader, she really knows how to tell a story and get everyone’s attention. The excitement and laughter on my parents face was enough to make them feel happy and satisfied with the school and teacher but most importantly that their daughter Diana had a great first day of school as a kindergartener and they were even more confident that I would excel, enjoy and love the school year as a kindergartener.