Osseo Schools Ease Parent Anxiety on First Day of School
Elm Creek Elementary hosted a “Tears and Cheers” event for parents to connect and cheer or commiserate on the first day of school. The event also allows parents to learn more about volunteering at the Maple Grove school.
Connecting with Parents
For Rose Johnson, sending her kindergartner off to school was a big step.
“Last week, it was a cheers thing and this morning I was like ‘oh, it’s so quiet at my house’ and I was like ‘oh I’m going to miss them’,” Johnson said.
In hopes of a smooth transition, Johnson participated in Elm Creek Elementary’s Tears and Cheers event.
“I like that you get to meet other parents before the school year starts, right when it starts just connect, have some breakfast and a relaxed environment,” Johnson explained.
The event also gave parents a chance to learn about volunteering at school.
“They get to know the Parent Teacher Organization leadership, where we do all the fundraiser for the school and we put on events for the school like turkey bingo, carnival, book fairs,” explained Emily McMullin, Elm Creek Elementary PTO Vice President.
Aside from breakfast and mingling, there were several activities like prizes and a selfie station.
“We do the “Oh the Places You’ll Go” book, what that does then, is each year, teachers can sing that book and then at the end of their high school career, they’ll have teachers that have signed their books,” McMullin said.
Parents also wrote notes to their kindergartners during the Tears and Cheers event.
“It’s something to kind of get them excited and it goes in their folder and it comes home and it’s a way to connect after school,” Johnson added.
While the first day can be bittersweet, parents agree there’s great thing sin store for their kids.
“It was very exciting you know, it’s a next step in a big long education journey, so we’re very excited,” said Steve Hitchcock.
