At 7 a.m. Tuesday – the first day of the new school year in Rye – Osborn School was as quiet as it had been all summer.
By 8 a.m., dozens of families had streamed toward the school entrance, filling a building that would soon be home to nearly 500 students each day.
Fathers in suits juggled coffee-filled thermoses in one hand while pushing baby carriages with the other. For parents, this time of year can be just as challenging as it is for their children.
Charlotte MacKenzie and Nancy Gauss, both mothers of third-grade boys at Osborn, shared their thoughts about what parents should expect.
“The most challenging part is getting back into the routine and structure after a fun summer,” said MacKenzie, who grew up in Rye.
Gauss, who lives down the street from MacKenzie, agreed.
“The first week back, there’s a lot of excitement,” she said. “It’s really fun, and then the kids settle in. I think they should expect a great school, great community.”
By 9 a.m., all of the students had made their way into Osborn, with a cheering crowd of parents and teachers behind them, along with the school mascot, Ozzie the Bear. Once every student was inside, parents quickly returned to their cars, some moving faster than others as they rushed to bring their older children to school.
Over at Rye High School, it was more common for seniors to drive in with decorated cars or bikes on their own.
Still, Chenai Chawana photographed her daughter, Alexia, and a friend at the entrance to document their first day of 10th grade. The two girls smiled beneath an arch made up of black and red balloons.
“To be honest, when it comes to high school, I say just be your child’s friend,” Chawana said, offering advice to parents whose children are entering their teens.
Chawana said she is confident Alexia has the tools to succeed, thanks in part to the academic resources available to students at the Rye schools.
Over the summer, Rye High finished a construction project that transformed an outdoor courtyard, adding power and Wi-Fi access as well as a common space for students to use throughout the day. On the first day, students took photos and selfies in their new space, complete with paved pathways and plenty of places to sit.
Osborn also underwent deep cleaning and general maintenance over the summer.
Judy Goodwin, a crossing guard, has been watching students and families navigate this annual transition for the last three years. Goodwin said she appreciates her daily routine of getting out, talking to people and, most of all, spending time with the kids.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the busiest, but it is the craziest,” she said of the first day, “because nobody knows where they’re going.”
While students may need a little extra guidance on the first day, parents are optimistic the year ahead will provide the direction they need to succeed in college and beyond.
“Everything happens in high school, so it’s just like that fun time for her,” Chawana said of her daughter. “At the same time, she’s getting to be an independent person, and she’s getting to know herself, choosing her own friends and her own life.”
