Poplar Bluff R-1 sees emotional return to school

Emotions ran high at the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center on Thursday morning as older kids returned to school and parents dropped off kindergartners for the first time.

“Dropping off our firstborn daughter is kind of hard for me because she’s five now, she’s growing up, and I realize that,” parent Daniel Parks said about his daughter Erin. “She’s still always going to be my baby girl.”

Erin has two younger sisters, but Parks said with his first born it feels different.

“It’s a big day for her, but an even bigger day for me, I feel like,” he said.

Overall, parents expressed the fact that they’re dropping off their “baby” for school, which proved to be emotional. However, parent Amanda Dunlap said her daughter, Kynlee, was fine with going to school.

“This is my baby I’m dropping off, so it’s really emotional,” Dunlap said. “What’s really good is she’s excited, which makes it a bit easier. If she was crying, I would be more terrified, but she’s very independent.”

The day proved to be exciting not just for the students and parents, but for school employees as well. Kindergarten Principal Jessica Thurston said the first day of school is a magical one for families and that itcreates a lot of memories.

“Parents are excited, students are semi-excited,” Thurston said. “There’s been a little bit of tears from the parents.”

Kindergarten teacher Alex Tinker said she looks forward to all the bright faces coming in at the beginning of the school year.

“My belly is in knots and I’ve got butterflies in my stomach,” she said. “I’m so excited that it’s going to be a great year.”

Meanwhile, over at Eugene Field Elementary School the first day celebration went smoothly, Principal Jennifer Taylor said.

“Staff, students and family members were so happy to be reunited after the long summer,” she said. “We are eager to get our morning started and know we’ll have a successful year.”