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Druid City Living | November 2020
SCHOOLS
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PreK Pals Ponderings: “I Am So Happy Here” BY ALICIA JENNE’
In June, he was still three – and maybe even still rocked a bit by his mommy and daddy before bedtime. He turned four years old in July, and his parents started talking to him about going to “Big School” soon. A backpack and a lunch box were ordered; a nap mat labeled with his name. In late August, he walked into the PreK classroom at Rock Quarry for the very first time, wearing new shoes, shorts, and a tiny button-down shirt. He had his picture made by the balloon arch at the front door. In the classroom, he met his teachers and had his picture made by the “First Day of PreK” sign.
Bill - First Day of Pre-K
His blue eyes were big and round, taking it all in. There was so much to look at, so much to see and to do. He moved from one thing to the next, laughing and gasping at each new toy and each new fun thing around the next corner. He got to meet a few friends, but not very many all at once because of social distancing. That didn’t matter too much, though, because everything else was so amazing. Books, puzzles, and blocks! A fun kitchen set and a table that lights up and changes colors! Cars, Legos, and dinosaurs! He stood in the middle of it all and turned around and around … The teacher asked, “What do you think, Bill?” A huge smile filled his little face and his eyes lit up. “I am so happy here,” he replied as he ran off to check out the child sized binoculars perched in the windowsill overlooking the playground. All the grownups in the room laughed, happy for just a moment, to be able to view the world through the eyes of a PreKPal.
Bill and PreK Mates
We are so happy to be able to be back in school with our PreKPals. Everyone wears a mask all day, every day, and we only leave our classroom for recess and dismissal. We have rotations at recess, so that we just play with the children in our class. We wave at our other friends as we change areas outdoors. For now, this is what we need to do to stay safe. The teachers clean a lot, but honestly, in PreK, we are always cleaning, so that really isn’t any different. We have to listen a little closer, because little baby voices are muffled by masks that are sometimes chewed on. Some things have changed, but the teaching, learning, and love that happens in our classroom is still the same. And do you know what? Just like Bill, we are ALL so happy here. Alicia Jenne’ is a Tuscaloosa mom and a veteran teacher of little people. She is the PreK Pals Lead Teacher for PreK#1 at Rock Quarry Elementary School.
Alicia and Bill
Photos: Alicia Jenne’
Medical Technologist: Vintage Health Resources, Inc.;
Tuscaloosa, AL; Responsible for providing information for diagnosis, treatment, & prevention of disease by conducting medical laboratory tests, procedures, experiments, & analysis. Requires a Bachelor’s in Medical Technology and Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT) Certification & 2 yrs’ prior Med Tech exp. Email Resumes: lkelly@vintagehealth.net
