It was only about an hour into first day of a new school year, but Kellie Yano’s first grade class at Shwab Elementary was already in top form Aug. 11.
A dozen adults — including Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Metro Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Adrienne Battle — had filed into the room, an unexpected curveball.
“Raise both hands if you’re ready for first grade,” Battle said.
Several dozen hands popped into the air. Nailed it.
What’s more, then came a pop quiz about what supplies the students might need for a successful school year. Markers, scissors, glue and crayons all made the list, of course.
Literal child’s play.
Last came the news from another adult in the room, PENCIL Foundation President and CEO Christiane Buggs, that each
of them would be receiving a free box of school supplies. So will all 13,000 kindergarten and first grade students across the district, Battle later revealed to reporters, thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit.
Very exciting, but there’s learning to do.
Only about half of the boxes had been handed out before some students in the classroom returned to dutifully working on their first assignment of the school year: their first self portrait of first grade.
“I love how focused some of these scholars are on their worksheets,” O’Connell mused as he walked around the room.
Following the momentary distraction, Principal Cheryl Bowman told reporters it’ll be a year “full of possibilities, opportunities and new experiences” at Shwab Elementary. There are certainly plenty of each to go around, both there and across MNPS.
There’s new state laws reshaping Tennessee’s education landscape and later school start times for Nashville’s elementary and high school students to navigate, for example, along with the usual preparations that come with a fresh academic year.
Battle said MNPS employees worked diligently at every school building across the district to prepare for the school year.
“From repairing buildings, enrolling students and getting teaching and learning materials together to connecting with families and making sure every cafeteria is ready to serve thousands of meals every week, as well as countless other essential tasks, our educators and support staff were extremely busy and extremely diligent in getting everything ready to go,” Battle said.
It doesn’t appear that there were any major hitches. In particular, Battle said things were “going extremely well” with adjusting to the logistics of new start times at elementary and high schools.
It all made for what O’Connell described as an “infectious” first-day-of-school energy that he said he saw play out throughout the morning, both from his own school-age children and at Shwab Elementary.
“Our younger daughter, who just started fourth grade this morning, went to bed early last night with a Christmas-like sensibility, where she wanted to go to bed early so that the first day could come sooner,” O’Connell said. “She’s excited to be back in school, see all of her friends and be with her new teachers. There are few things like seeing a child learn and engage with the world around them, whether it’s through the simplicity of reading or being in the classroom with a great teacher.”
Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him with questions, tips and story ideas at ahornbostel@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville students return to new school start times, free supplies
