PATTERSON- The first day of school can often be ‘traumatic’ for five-year-olds.
Kindergartners are often uneasy leaving home for the first time, boarding a school bus, and meeting new friends.
For Chris and Madison, two kindergartners attending the Matthew Paterson Elementary School in Patterson, the day turned into quite an adventure yet the two children ‘survived” and received congratulations from members of the Carmel Board of Education at this week’s meeting.
Chris and Madison are now good friends and held hands as school trustees congratulated them.
Board President Melissa Orser and Vice President John Curzio presented each child a “Survival Bag” that included snacks, a flashlight, a coloring book, and an illustrated map of Carmel.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin gave them the “Great Kindergarten Bus Awards” for being brave, calm, and awesome. Bus Driver Jeremy Braddock, who kept the youngsters calm while he sorted out the mistake, joined the officials and the children’s families at the board meeting.
Ken Silver, the assistant superintendent of business, operations and human resources, organized the event: “I thought we should recognize what they went through,” said Silver adding: “It was their very first day of school and their first trip home. That is a big, emotional event for kindergartners as well as for their families. They were troopers, though, and they came out of it with a special friendship,” he said.
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