Families look forward to the future as kids return to school

Monday brought a range of emotions for Meini McKinnon. 

She had just dropped off her son, Nathan McKinnon, for kindergarten at Southside Elementary School, which she chose following tours of different schools. 

"That makes me feel sad," she said. "It's pretty much a lot of emotions. Honestly, I cried in the car, but I didn't want to show my son."

But she said that, as he headed inside, she could see he was ready for the start of school. 

"He was so happy to come to the big school and meet new friends," she said. "He was coloring. I took a bunch of pictures of him."

Monday marked the start of the school year for Sarasota County Schools, a district that includes 23 elementary schools. Families took photos, while children smiled and greeted old teachers.

The period leading up to the start of school was a flurry of activity. The classrooms at Tuttle Elementary School on Aug. 6 were beginning to look like a place where students could feel at home as teachers prepared. 

Messages were taking shape on bulletin boards as teachers cut out large letters or stapled them side by side, while papers and cards with students' names adorned desks. 

The school had a new outlook on the year, having been noted for its achievement of rising from a "B" grade to an "A." Principal Patti Folino noted it adopted the theme this year of "rooted and rising."

There were also backpacks lining a table in the school's hall. There were enough for about half the student body, or 300 students, Folino said. Florida Blue donated backpacks as well as some accompanying school supplies, while Orangetheory Fitness South Sarasota donated supplies.

That same day was "Meet the Teacher" night for families at Southside and Alta Vista Elementary schools. Alta Vista is welcoming sixth-grade students to campus for the first time, part of a multi-year plan to expand the school to a K-8 facility. 

Principal Meredith McArthur said the faculty is eager to see older students flourish on a familiar campus.

"Here's one right now, our fifth graders becoming our incredible sixth graders," she said while waving to Delvis Abreu. "We are very excited for that.”

The 11-year-old looks forward to seeing what the new math and science programs will offer, while keeping up with music, baseball and karate extracurriculars.

The principal said the upcoming year will be one of significant growth for both students and staff.

"Our theme this year is 'Building Our Legacy,' because that is the future we are building right now," McArthur said, pointing to the sixth-grade classrooms. "We get to build that foundation here and see that growth all the way through eighth grade. But also for our families, we're such a community-based school that I think maintaining that small community feel is important.”

She said the school's hope is that the shift to middle school will be less intimidating for families.

Four days later, students lined up outside the school gates in their crisp blue and red uniforms, high-fiving school resource law enforcement officers and their former teachers.

"Hi, Ms. Gomez!" called out 5-year-old Avalyn Chavez while she collected her name tag.

Her mother, Ruby Chavez, said seeing Avalyn start a new chapter was joyful more than anything else. Avalyn was excited to meet her teacher and new friends.

"This is my first day of school, and these are my new shoes," she said, twirling her white tennis shoes to make the gems on them sparkle in the morning sunshine.

When the bell rang, however, she used those shoes to join her classmates in running to their rooms.

About 10 minutes away at Southside Elementary, students were arriving in various ways — some by car, others by bus, and still others by scooter or bike, often accompanied by their parents on foot. 

Principal Allison Foster cited, among other factors, the school’s status as a neighborhood school, with proximity to downtown and the ability to walk to campus, as a reason for its significant reputation in the community.

Something else that may be a little unique, she said, is the amount of families attending through school choice. 

She said most members of the student body, which currently sits at 685 to 690 students — a slight increase over last year — choice into the school during kindergarten, and the amount of kindergarteners attending by choice this year, and last year, was "pushing over 50%."

She noted that, as the oldest school in Sarasota, which is celebrating its 101st anniversary, Southside has many families who have attended for generations. 

For at least one student, though, leaving behind the summer on Monday was still difficult. 

“I’m a little bit frustrated,” said Emma Prochazka, a third grader, when asked how she felt about returning to school. 

Her family moved from the Czech Republic in mid-July, after spending many years between there and Sarasota, said her mother Petra Prochazka. She said a different school schedule in the Czech Republic gave Emma a “really short summer.”

Emma said she was looking forward to the subjects of science and math, although she was still feeling shy.

“Sometimes when I go to another school, like a new school, I’m a little shy,” she said. “I’m always shy when I see another person, for like 30 minutes, or 30 seconds.” (Prochazka said the timeline is really at the "30 seconds" end of the range.) 

As Kindergartener Vivienne Forth approached the school building by scooter, there was a look of anticipation on her face.

“She’s so excited to be here,” said her father, Dominic Forth. He noted they were pleased with the school’s “great legacy and reputation” and awaited Vivienne “thriving” in the year ahead. 

He commended the hard work of the teachers and said the family loved being part of the school's work in the community. 

“It’s such a warm and positive feeling around the school today,” he said. “It’s great to see all the excitement on the kids’ faces. We’re looking forward to a great school year.”