Photo By Janecze Wright | Nelson Moore, Meadows Elementary music teacher, sings and strums his guitar to welcome...... read more read more
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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — “Welcome to school everyone. Hope you have a lot of fun,” music teacher Nelson Moore sang as he strummed his guitar.
Nelson teaches music to students in Pre-K – fifth grade at Meadows Elementary School and is one of the many teachers who helped welcome students on the first day of classes for Killeen Independent School District Monday.
Nelson conveyed that music is one of the few things students can do that engages all parts of the brain.
“They’re better at reading; they’re better at math; they’re better at science; because it really is like exercise for the brain,” he explained. “So, in that way, I feel like if I can do a successful job instructing them in content for music, it actually amplifies everything in school. And if I’m doing my job correctly, they’re having so much fun they don’t realize they’re learning and exercising their brains.”
Though the first day of school can be hectic with parents trying to ensure their children find their way to their classrooms, a new school year brings a myriad of new opportunities.
Students embark upon another year of learning, growing and maturing, and teachers, administrators and staff have a chance to reset, reassess and work toward achieving new goals.
Fourth grade teacher Jennifer Johnson-Parks bubbled over with excitement when meeting her new class.
“I’m feeling energized. I’m ready. I’m excited. I’m ready to get the kids amped up,” she exclaimed. “This is my first-year teaching fourth grade after teaching fifth grade the last three years. It’s not that much of a big change, but I’m just very excited about being able to meet a brand-new set of kids!”
Johnson-Parks proclaimed that it’s all about personality when it comes to making an impression on new students.
“If you don’t have a welcoming personality, the kids are not going to feel welcome. So, I’m big on being very upbeat. Personality is everything!”
Staff Sgt. Margarita Rojas, 11th Signal Brigade, conveyed that she is thankful for teachers like Johnson-Parks, as well as the priority placed on parent participation.
“They do a really good job with putting families first,” she said. “I’ve been granted the opportunity for the last two years to come to parent teacher meet up and it’s advertised very well. So, everybody’s tracking and everybody’s on the same sheet of music when it comes to allowing the parents to go and meet the teachers and see the campus.”
Rojas is a single mom to six-year-old Luna and four-year old Solina. She expressed that the support from her leadership has been invaluable.
“I’m a single Soldier. I’ve been in for 10 and a half years,” she explained. “It means a lot to me because had I not been given the opportunity, I’d definitely be running around trying to figure it out and juggle both work and home. So, I do appreciate the help I get from my leadership.”
Spc. Kayla Jackson, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, shared the same sentiments.
“They’re working with me as far getting my kids to and from, so that’s good,” she said. “My leadership is great!”
Mom to nine-year-old Ka’Nyla, and eight-year-old Kamarion, Jackson revealed that her children just arrived this week from out of state. She explained that she feels nervous because they came from a much smaller school.
“It’s a new transition for them. It’s a new environment. They’re kind of nervous about making friends,” she said. “It’s different for them, so I want them to get a new experience.”
Ensuring students’ needs are met as they start the new year is the focus, said Dr. Julie Sims, Meadows Elementary School principal.
“Priority one is making sure that kids get here,” Sims explained, “fit in, are getting the right educational levels, getting the right supports that they need and that we’re helping to make that transition smooth.”
Sims added that the campus consistently strives to meet the ever-changing needs of military families.
“We try to do anything and everything to help our military families,” she declared. “It’s super important because a lot of times, for kids, this could be their third or fourth school, so we’re trying to teach expectations on the first day, be open and communicate. We really work to get them in and teach them some consistent structure across the school and help make that transition easier.”
Sims conveyed that guiding more than 900 students and their families, nearly 100 faculty and staff members and about 60 teachers through a successful year can be a daunting task, but there is one thing she encourages students and parents to do to make it easier.
“Communicate with the teacher, communicate with administration, communicate with the school counselors,” she instructed. “We can’t fix what we don’t know, but we’re here, eager and ready to help everyone have a great experience.”
The first day of the school year always poses the challenge of remembering new students’ names.
When asked how she remembers just shy of 1,000 students’ names, Sims giggled as she provided an endearing approach to identifying so many new faces.
“Sweetie, My Love, Hey Bud, all kinds of nicknames that we call our own children all the time,” she quipped. “All kinds of names to still build kids up and let them know we care even though we may not be thinking specific names at the moment.
“Fort Cavazos is a great place and we’re super excited that families are here,” she continued. “We’re excited when any family comes to Meadows, any family comes to Fort Cavazos, and we hope to make this year their best year ever.”
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2023 15:44 |
| Story ID: | 451979 |
| Location: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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