Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prepping for 'back to school' ....already

As students get their school supplies together

and prepare for that all important first day of

school, theres bound to be some excitement 

even if its tempered with the sadness that the lazy

days of summer are over.

Teachers get excited, too, said kindergarten

teacher Cynthia Jester.

Jester and other kindergarten teachers at

Prescott Elementary are returning to classrooms

with a fresh coat of paint. Jester said the new paint

refreshes everything. The teachers are now

faced with the daunting task of putting all their

furniture and equipment back in its proper place.

That in itself, according to Jester, is an opportunity

to make some changes.

Teachers typically have the funds to purchase

some new items over the summer months as well.

In Jesters case, this included the equipment for a

science center. Students in her class will spend

their science time this year watching an ant farm

and learning the wonders of nature as seen

through a magnifying glass.

Meanwhile, the Dr. Seuss character, The Cat

in the Hat, will be the theme for the room, starting

at the doorway.

Jesters kindergarten class isnt the only one

that will have a new look this year. Third grade

teacher Kim Jester said her room is going to have

some rootin tootin fun with a ranch kids

theme. Kim Jester, a teacher for some two

decades, said shes using the weeks before school

starts to dejunk. Jester said shes cleared out the

old to make room for the new.

Its not all going to be new at PES. Donna

Marlars room will continue to feature the

authors chair. Marlar said the chair  a green

lawn chair  provides a place to spotlight a student

when he or she tells about a favorite author

or story.

Kids love anything thats different, Marlar

said.

The changes in her room include new computers.

The Smart Board is an interactive teaching

tool that uses computers but also allows students

to do board work.