Off and learning at school

POST FALLS - Drake Erickson passed his first test of the school year on Tuesday's opening day.

The Frederick Post Kindercenter student calmly wrote his name and other letters at his desk, seemingly oblivious to his parents, Travis and Erin, filling out school paperwork nearby, and was comfortable with his new surroundings.

When asked what he was looking forward to the most at school, he said emphatically, "Everything."

Drake's parents, too, said they believe they were prepared for the day to send their only child to school, but cautioned the tide may change.

"I think we're ready," Erin said. "We're excited for the new adventure. We're just waiting on him to see if he's ready.

"I don't think I'll cry, but we'll see."

Travis said he wishes he could steal a page out of Drake's playbook when it comes to not stewing about the future.

"About a month ago, I asked him if he's thinking about school, and he said, 'No, I'll think about it when the day comes,'" Travis said.

For Travis, orientation in Shari Symons' class was a trip down memory lane.

"I'm learning about everything I've forgotten," he said, glancing around the room. "It's a struggle."

Mother Bernadette Williamson has been through opening day jitters before - her son Gavin is the youngest of four children - but she still has concerns over the separation.

"He's different than the other three," Williamson said. "He got pretty upset at Head Start. We couldn't keep him there because he wasn't comfortable.

"But, with kindergarten, there's no choice. You have to go to kindergarten."

While Gavin was all smiles "because he gets to go to kindergarten," he maintained close contact with his mother.

"I'm excited to hear about how it goes for him," Bernadette said. "This could be hard for him, but it will help seeing some of his friends."

Julie Billetz, in her 11th year at the school, said she encourages parents and staff to put on their "brave face" so the transition goes as smoothly as possible.

"What works best is if parents, smile, wave goodbye and leave," Billetz said, adding that going to their child's classroom after opening day can make the separation more challenging.

"If parents show they're upset, the child feels that anxiety of parents leaving and it's not pretty."

Student Keana Pettyjohn, donning a white dress, held her dad Randy's hand as they approached the school's front door.

While Keana is Randy's third child to start school, Tuesday wasn't second nature.

"You still have the thought that my little princess is getting older and going to school," Randy said.