The First Day of School

Now that I'm retired from teaching the first day of school doesn't mean the same to me. It does, however, invoke many pleasant and some not too pleasant memories. It's a day that most students, all parents and even some teachers were waiting for with great excitement and anticipation.
The students have for the past week or so gotten in their last minute parties, finished up their obligatory family vacations, and if Facebook is any indicator have been busy doing their required summer reading. Being the procrastinators that they are they have left the latter task to the last minute, along with buying school supplies and clothing. They are so looking forward to seeing their old friends again and if they are changing schools to scoping out their new environs.
The parents have served their penance of having to look after their children all summer. Some of them have chauffeured them from place to place, from one activity to another and if they are older they have worried about them coming in before or after curfew. It's bittersweet when the kid's go back to school but at about 8:00 am this morning if you stepped outside you could hear a large collective sigh of relief go up into the skies from all the parents in an universal chorus.
The teachers have busily been spending their summer time doing one of several things: attending inservices,taking advanced college courses, traveling, looking after their own kids or working at a summer job. They too are eager to get back in their classrooms, decorate and set them up for their new kiddoes, meet with colleagues and understand the new policies of their schools and school districts. I remember that each school year not only started with a few butterflies in the stomach but with a refreshed attitude when I returned to the school environment that first day.
This year took on a little different twist for me. My only grandson was starting full day Pre-K this year. He is a bright young man with a lot of energy. I had told my daughter to expect a lot of calls from the teacher this year since he did things very fast and did not like a whole bunch of down time. Sometimes bright children don't do well with segments of free time so I was a little worried, especially with my 38 years of teaching and a number of these with bright children. So I was not at all surprised when my daughter called me and said she got a phone call already from the teacher. In my mind all I could think of is that he acted out and was in trouble. No such worry- the call was a positive call assuring my daughter that he had a great morning and did real well with legos and math. That was nice- a positive phone call.
I once had a principal who asked us to make a positive phone call each day. If I ran the schools I would mandate that program. I know how good my daughter felt today on the first day of school when she got that call. I know how this grandpa felt when she told me. Not a bad idea- perhaps we should ALL make one positive call each day, no matter what our job is!