First Day at North Marion Brings Excitement, Change

By Jillian Daley

An unbearably cute trio waited for the Primary School bell to ring Wednesday morning, signaling the first day of school had begun. 

“I like school,” first-grader Liam Gulick announced happily while he waited. “I just like it.”

“Me too,” agreed his cousin, first-grader Elijah Gomez. Myles Gomez, 2 ½, simply beamed to be in the presence of two older gentlemen but was still years away from Primary School.

Liam added, “I get bored at home,” prompting his father, Andrew Gulick, to laugh.

Kindergartners start next week, and freshmen and sixth-graders enjoyed orientations at school on Sept. 6, but almost everyone in all four schools on campus, including Elijah and Liam, began on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Each student had a different reason for being excited, although that feeling could be tempered for students transitioning between schools or considering their next steps out into the “real world.”

Primary School

The youngest students on campus were solidly all about the excitement of school. Books were what two young readers couldn’t wait for, Elijah (favorite subject matter: dinosaurs) and Liam (animals, especially jaguars!).

They weren’t alone in their eagerness to hit the books, not at North Marion Primary School. First-grader Charlotte Thompson said that she couldn’t wait to get back to school because she hadn’t been in school “in a long time” and she loves it. And why is that?

“I get to learn,” she said, a statement that made her grandmother, Diana Koppes, glow with joy.

The little kids were especially excited about learning. Mom Becka Bailey said that for the past two weeks her son, second-grader Logan Williams, has been talking about how he’ll be able to learn about science this year. His top priority is the classic science experiment that involves mixing baking soda and vinegar for an eruption. 

“That’s what I think I’m going to be doing, volcanoes,” Logan said. “I like doing volcanoes.” 

He’s also looking forward to lunch as he got a special treat today, mini Pop-Tarts. 

“I have them in my backpack,” Logan confided.

So many kids were eagerly anticipating the joy of school. Mom Alondra Campusano’s children, second-graders Trinidad and Moises knew what they loved most.

“Coloring,” Trinidad called out.

“Yeah, coloring,” Moises piped up in response.

Intermediate School

Campusano’s eldest child, fifth-grader Miguel, wasn’t quite set on what he liked most about returning to school.

“I don’t even know,” he said, seeming to be overwhelmed at choosing from an embarrassment of riches. He subsided into silence as he contemplated all that school has to offer.

Campusano was almost as overjoyed with the moment as her children. She said that her boss graciously allowed her to come in a little later than usual so that she could spend the first day of Primary School and Intermediate School with her three children. 

Just like adults, kids need a break from their work too. Lucia Cruz-De Jesus’s eldest child, fourth-grader Yaretzi, said in Spanish that one thing she loves about school is to play (jugar).

Middle School

In addition to the excitement, there were a few adjustments for students and some anxiousness.

Seventh-grader Kiana Smith confessed to being a little nervous about the first day, but she was looking forward to seeing friends. 

Sixth-grader Ryder Zacher said he felt similarly about being around his buddies again. Yet, although he was glad to be back, he characterized being in Middle School rather than grade school as “weird.”

“I have so many classes to get to,” Zacher said. “I didn’t have to do that before.”

High School

The first year at any school can be an adjustment, but junior Evelyn Herrera Montoya said she’s feeling “pretty comfortable” in her second-to-last year at North Marion High School.

Junior Justin Tafoya actually didn’t seem to want to be entirely comfortable.

“Nothing out of the ordinary happened” today, he said, seeming almost sad. “I like out of the ordinary.”

Hopefully, he’ll get plenty of excitement on the soccer team as a right back, a defensive position near the goal. 

Juniors Chris Herrera Martinez and Josiah Diaz joked about being eager to begin group homework sessions, but said that they were genuinely glad to have their friends around them again.

“They’re all different,” Diaz said. “They all have their own personalities.”

Meanwhile, many seniors saw this first day as one of the biggest transitions of all, moving from K–12 to earning a living or going to college.

Senior Maribel Lomeli, who plans to attend college, is already torn about the future.

“I’m not looking forward to ending the school year,” Lomeli said. “I feel like I’m already emotional about it. I’m sad to leave everyone behind.”

But she’s also delighted to start her new life in college, already debating what her major will be. 

That’s the way autumn at a school district always is, a fresh start, even as the leaves start to change, and fall.

To share stories on the North Marion School District, email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley at jillian.daley@nmarion.k12.or.us