Walk through the crowded aisles of Wal-Mart, past parents furiously grabbing for three-ring binders and glue sticks as children tug at their shirt sleeves, pleading for a new set of Crayola markers, and one thing is immediately clear: school is
Walk through the crowded aisles of Wal-Mart, past parents furiously grabbing for three-ring binders and glue sticks as children tug at their shirt sleeves, pleading for a new set of Crayola markers, and one thing is immediately clear: school is back in session.
Four area schools — Kalaheo School, Kapa‘a Elementary, King Kaumuali‘i Elementary and Waimea High School — reopen today.
Other local schools will be opening over the next two weeks.
For students, the first day of school puts an end to the summer doldrums.
“I’m excited about my new teacher and the stuff that she’ll teach,” Kalau Tanaka-Pesamino, an 8-year-old entering third grade at King Kaumuali‘i, said. “And I’m also excited about learning the multiplication tables.”
Tanaka-Pesamino’s excitement even extended to homework, which she said she was looking forward to doing.
But for parents, the first day of school looms forebodingly, signaling a mad rush of paperwork and supply-shopping.
And perhaps the epicenter of this chaos is the school supply aisles at the local Wal-Mart and Kmart.
A Wal-Mart employee said the store had been “crazy busy” with back-to-school shoppers.
“My children are always excited about the beginning of the school year because they get to spend money that isn’t theirs,” parent Brett Struhar said.
His children,Tiffany and Krystal, will be entering the second and seventh grades, respectively, at St. Catherine School in Kapa‘a.
Federal guidelines require schools to provide a list of supplies for students, and local stores often have them on display at their entrances.
But for some parents, distinguishing between wide-ruled and unlined tablet paper is sometimes a difficult task.
“I don’t know how they expect us to figure out any of this stuff,” one parent said as she pointed to a school supply list.
Although school supply shopping can be frustrating, King Kaumuali’i Vice-Principal Jason Yoshida urged parents to be understanding on the first day of school.
“Last year our parking lot got a little congested on the first day and some parents got frustrated,” Yoshida said. “So to ensure the safety of the children, we ask parents to be patient.”
Yoshida also said parents should make sure to fill out all necessary paperwork before school starts, including school lunch applications and bus passes.
But more important than the paperwork, Yoshida said, is parent involvement.
“It’s important for parents to take part in the educational process,” he said.
Hanalei Elementary and Kilauea Elementary open on July 28.
Kekaha Elementary, Waimea Canyon Elementary, Wilcox Elementary, Kapa‘a Middle School and Kaua‘i High School open on July 31.
Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School and Kapa‘a High School open on Aug. 1.
Ele‘ele Elementary and Koloa School open on Aug. 2.
• Steven Stein, editorial intern, can be reached at 245-3681 or sstein@kauaipubco.com.
