By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Work hard. Listen to the teacher. Don’t hit. Try your best. Don’t sass the teacher. Get lots of sleep.
These words of wisdom are being shared with rising kindergartners by Anna Purvis, Melanie Dominguez, Michael Crawford and Logan Reason, current kindergarten students at Eastern Elementary School in Washington.
With kindergarten registration under way across Beaufort County, that advice is timely.
The youngsters, along with their teacher Cherie Boyd and Beaufort County Schools information officer Sarah Hodges, talked last week about how much fun attending school can be.
“You get to play with your friends. I like playing with Melanie,” Anna said, as the two girls giggled. “I like reading about Easter and the other holidays, and I like working on the smart board,” Melanie added.
“You can write and play games,” Michael said. “I like writing in my journal. I write about monsters and spring,” Logan said.
A fringe benefit of going to school is the cafeteria food. Although Anna brings her lunch from home, the others were quick to name their favorites from the cafeteria.
“I like to eat and eat. My favorites are the chicken nuggets,” Michael said.
“Cheese biscuits,” Melanie said.
“Sausage pizza,” Logan said.
Eastern Elementary’s playground also is a favorite spot outside of the classroom environment. Students are taught good playground manners while enjoying the monkey bars, slide and swings.
Playing outside is a highlight of the day for Anna and Melanie, especially for Anna, who enjoys being outside. One of her favorite activities when not in school is going “coon hunting” with her daddy.
Michael, who wants to be an artist, loves going to the art classroom. Logan likes PE class, “because we exercise our muscles to keep healthy.”
An added treat is riding the bus to and from school. They have nice bus drivers, the children said.
For some children, their first few days at school can be a little overwhelming.
“But then it started to be fun,” Logan said.
“And I stopped crying,” Melanie added.
Boyd offered advice to newcomers.
“We have the five R’s for parents,” she said. “Rest, eat really healthy food, attend school regularly, have a routine and read everyday.”
Chocowinity Primary School held its kindergarten registration earlier this month, but the four other public elementary schools will offer registration in April, said Hodges, who expects around 500 new kindergarten students in Beaufort County Schools this fall.
Dates and times for each school are as follows: April 21, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and April 22, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Northeast Elementary School); April 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (S.W. Snowden Elementary School); April 27, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., April 28, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and April 29, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Elementary School); and April 28, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and April 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Bath Elementary School).
The child being enrolled must be 5 years of age on or before Aug. 31.
“When parents come to register, please bring the child,” Hodges said. “And we strongly encourage a comprehensive eye exam, but it isn’t required.”
To register a student, parents must show proof of residency in Beaufort County by providing any two of these items: signed lease agreement, rental receipt, utility bill, current listing on an income tax form or proof of home ownership.
Parents also must provide the child’s Social Security card, a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate and updated immunization records. A kindergarten health assessment will be available at registration.
“We encourage parents to go ahead and get things in order they’ll need,” Hodges added. “If they have questions, they can start with the school their child will be enrolling in.”
For more information, visit the Beaufort County Schools Web site at www.beaufort.k12.nc.us.