Across Spring Branch ISD (SBISD), smiles were blooming this week as students and families attended Meet the Teacher events at the district’s elementary schools in anticipation of the first day of school on August 15.
Some students’ smiles were still in the early stages of blooming: “I’m not so sure about this new person.”
Other smiles were just beginning to sprout: “Hmm, this person seems friendly; maybe it will be okay.”
Some smiles were spreading: “Hello, my name is ____ and I like _____.”
And many smiles were radiantly in full bloom: “…and do you know what else I did this summer?!”
Families were reconnecting with hugs and hellos in the halls and classrooms, bringing their children to see fresh new classrooms with welcoming teachers ready to establish routines. Teachers were also starting to assess students' personalities: “We will start out with this seating arrangement, but we will change it up often once I learn who works well next to each other.”
Some students and families saw new buildings and classrooms for the first time as construction crews added finishing touches to landscaping and fine-tuned small details. “Wow, this is so different from last year,” remarked a seasoned fifth-grader.
Teachers in newly rebuilt schools and classroom additions were proud to show their students around and let them explore the bright, well-designed learning environments. Other students and families were attending new schools this year due to revamped school attendance zones.
“About half of this class is new to this school, so everyone will be ready to make some new friends,” one teacher assured a shy student.
For some fifth graders, this year meant meeting a team of teachers, as they will “switch” classrooms partway through the day to learn from different subject specialists.
“This is just a small taste of what it will be like in middle school, where they are going next,” explained a teacher to a parent. On the other end of the spectrum, a parent whose son is entering kindergarten initially thought it would be similar to day care.
Upon arriving at the school, she said, “Oh, THIS is much different. A bigger school with bigger kids!”
This parent introduced her son to a family friend who is on staff and asked her to keep an eye out for him, which gave the young mom peace of mind.