Starting anew

Suzie Harrison

The questions whir in one’s mind faster than a DSL connection. This

speedy synapse dance can be found in the millions of children going

back to school in the fall, where, no matter where one lives, there

are some unwritten rules of what is cool and what isn’t.

Questions plague their thought processes such as, What should I

wear? Where should my locker be, and with whom should I share it?

Where do the cool people sit for lunch? These perplexities either

catch the student like a small swell or hit them like a tsunami.

To check out the pulse of Laguna’s youth, we checked out firsthand

exactly what it was like on the first day of classes Thursday.

First on the stop were the first-graders at Top of the World,

having grown and matured since the kindergarten days, they were able

to talk about their world view, the speed of light and their ABCs.

Margaret Arnold was enjoying her new students, who were busy

reviewing the alphabet with the alphabet song. The children appeared

unafraid of the challenge.

“I feel happy that it’s the first day of school and that this is

my first-grade class,” Caroline Herrick, 6, said. “I woke up tired

and now happy, only just a little bit nervous.”

Her expectations about the first grade included learning about

math and she stressed that she likes learning the alphabet.

Caroline also said she is happy that she knows some friends from

different classes.

Annie Brown, 6, seems unscathed by the concept of education.

“I was tired when I woke up and nervous going into the first grade

since it’s kind of harder than kindergarten,” Annie said. “When I got

here, I wasn’t really nervous.”

Though she said it feels different and has harder work to do,

she’ll continue her pursuit of a career in veterinary medicine.

Jack Dobson, 7, said that he was thinking this summer that the

first grade would be fun, but he had no idea it could be this great.

“I didn’t know we’d play games and that it would be so much fun,”

Jack said.

Jacob Beltran, 6, said that this summer he was thinking the first

grade will be fun, but at the moment, he said, he’s thinking about

his lunchtime.

Top of the World Principal Ron LaMotte was thrilled that the

construction was at the point that they were ready to open and have a

fresh, clean and smooth beginning with happy children and parents.

Making the even bigger jump are the sixth-grade students who have

left their respective elementary schools to merge and contend with

the older kids. Some children in Gay Pivaroff’s class shared their

experiences so far.

“It’s really different, I have six periods of classes instead of

one, and different teachers,” Julia Weidig, 11, said. “At first I got

butterflies, I thought ‘Oh my God’ and then I got to school, and it’s

much better.”

She said she likes the teachers and she likes being at Thurston

better than El Morro.

“I feel I have more challenges to rise up to here,” Julia said.

“The principal is really nice, and I have great teachers. it’s a nice

school -- I like how they’re reconstructing.”

She said she has some old friends and is already making new ones.

“I was with some of my old friends, and we were standing in line

next to this new girl and asked her to hang out with us,” Julia said.

“I asked her to hang out with us because she didn’t know anyone and

it can be kind of scary.”

She said that the pressure to be on top of fashion trends and

buying new clothes before school was important.

“I spent over $300 on shopping just for clothes and am going again

this weekend,” Julia said. “I have a lot to say about shopping. It’s

my world. I don’t know what I would do without shopping, phones and

TV.”

Luke Lacy, 11, felt laid back about being in middle school.

“It wasn’t really scary. My sister goes here and I have friends

here,” Luke said. “I thought it was going to be a lot of fun and it

is.”

Taylor Parks, 12, said the experience is OK and normal in a way.

“But it’s a little sketchy. There’s so many people,” Taylor said.

“Between classes, whoa people, I can’t even get through.”

But he said all of his friends from his other school are here and

he has the same friends at Thurston -- the big difference is that

it’s a lot bigger at this school he said.

Miranda Prado, 10, said that this morning, she thought that the

experience is something new and that it would be a lot different.

“A lot of people are different and older, which can be scary

because it’s a totally different school,” Miranda said. “But I was

very excited about it also, the difference and meeting some new

people.”

She said she did some back-to-school shopping but doesn’t think

that fashion really matters at school.

“Some are into that stuff, and some aren’t,” Miranda said.

Taylor and Luke basically said “whatever” to the whole

what-to-wear subject.

At Laguna Beach High School, some of the freshmen were getting a

taste of what it will be like.

“It feels great because it’s like a new beginning of life, a new

stage to complete,” Arlene Melchor, 14, said. “I’m having a great

time making new friends.”

She did a bit of shopping for school. She thinks it’s important at

this level, she said.

Nancy Ayala, 14, said that the first day as a freshman feels good,

but she was a little nervous.

“I’m looking forward to getting higher grades than last year,”

Nancy said. “I woke up kind of happy because I’m going to school and

was a little nervous because I thought I was going to do something

wrong.”

Nancy said that fashion isn’t really an issue to her.

“I can shop throughout the year,” Nancy said. “I don’t feel peer

pressure.”

The first day of high school has been pretty cool for Lance

Ussery, 14.

“I’m excited to see all my old friends, and hanging out with older

people seems nice,” Lance said. “I woke up thinking, school,

whatever. High school is not a whole lot different from last year.”

He thinks the importance of fashion depends on the person.

“I don’t really care. High school people change their looks a

lot,” Lance said. “I’m going for a more laid-back look than last

year. People probably change a lot for high school. High school is

awesome.”

Walking on campus it seemed like some were dazed and confused

looking at their class schedule to find their way, while others were

already in the groove with their friends -- oh, the joy of the first

day of school.