𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐉𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐊 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐨. 𝟗

𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 50 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙧. 𝙍𝙤𝙘𝙘𝙤 𝙂. 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚

 LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ (Sept. 2) -- They arrived through sprinkles and light showers Wednesday morning (Sept.2), little hands tucked into bigger ones, backpacks on shoulders and first-day emotions written across the faces of children and parents alike.

 For more than 50 preschoolers beginning the school year at School No. 9, it was a morning of new faces, new surroundings and the first steps into a new school experience.

For many of their parents, it was something else, too: letting go.

 “This is their first entry,” said Jennifer Smith of Linden Public Schools’ Early Childhood Department. “It’s their first time trusting someone with their children. First time letting go.”

 First Steps, Big Emotions

That mix of excitement, nerves and reassurance filled School No. 9, the temporary home of students from the new Dr. Rocco G. Tomazic Preschool Academy. Construction and final approvals are continuing on the academy’s permanent facility in neighboring Winfield Park, which is expected to open this fall.

 Wednesday marked the beginning of that transition with a two-hour parent-student orientation rather than a regular school day. Families gathered in the cafeteria, where Principal Frank Minniti introduced teachers and support staff and outlined what they can expect from a preschool program centered on early learning, strong relationships and a sense of belonging.

Parents also had an opportunity during the orientation to meet their child’s teacher. Students will report to their classrooms for the first time Thursday as the regular school routine begins.

A Place to Belong

“Our promise is that every child, when they come to us and eventually leave us, knows that school is a safe place for them, where they belong, where they’re cared for, and where they can learn and grow,” Minniti told families.

Minniti said the preschool years are about developing the building blocks children will carry into kindergarten, first grade and beyond -- curiosity, collaboration, teamwork, self-regulation and, ultimately, a love of learning.

The temporary academy includes four classrooms, each with a classroom aide, along with nursing, social work, instructional coaching, family outreach and other early childhood support services. Five classrooms are planned for the permanent Winfield Park facility.

Supporting Children…and Parents

Smith said that network of support extends to parents, particularly when leaving a young child at school for the first time can be as difficult for the adults as it is for the children. “We really want the parents to feel comfortable with us,” Smith said. “We want to create those relationships with the parents.”

That relationship-building was already underway Wednesday as staff welcomed families, learned names, answered questions and helped parents and children become comfortable with their temporary school home.

Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Sept. 15 at School No. 9.

The School No. 9 classrooms are part of Linden’s broader preschool network, which operates across 11 locations this school year, including district schools and community provider sites.

Tomorrow, the Classrooms

For Minniti, the mission inside each classroom is straightforward. “We’re here to nurture and develop those initial learning skills,” he said. “We’re here to encourage curiosity, collaboration, teamwork and self-regulation.”

Thursday (Sep. 3) will bring another milestone. After Wednesday’s introductions and orientation, the children will enter their classrooms and begin settling into the routines, relationships and learning that will shape their preschool year.