Commentary by Heather Kestian
I recently sent my 5-year-old to kindergarten. Fear not, I did not cry in front of my child. I maintained my composure and portrayed nothing but exuberated excitement. After all, this is the beginning of the rest of his education, and the last impression I would want to give to him is that this is a sad time for him. So I kept my chin up and subsequently cried in my car after he stepped on the bus.
Throughout the enrollment process, I have been impressed with Hamilton Southeastern Schools. From picking up the enrollment packet to the completion of the first week of school, the school system has reassured my family with timely and well-distributed information.
I admit that I was worried about this whole process. I should have known at the introductory evening in the spring that this was going to be an exceptional experience. The children were allowed to look around the kindergarten rooms and meet the teachers. They also offered a bus ride, complete with an explanation of the bus riding rules.
Fast forward to August, and the insights offered during parent night were welcomed and informative. Part of life is being prepared and knowing the expectations for what is to come. Needless to say, I felt better prepared to get my child ready for school. I could prepare him for what his day would look like and what he would do. I could talk to him about the behavior plan and system. It was a unique opportunity to set the tone for the year.
A couple of days before school, his bus driver called to introduce herself. This simple gesture sent a message to me – that the education of our community’s children is a group effort and everyone is involved in creating a safe learning environment.
The electronic information sharing and the messaging information systems are helpful. Getting a phone call and e-mail about important information as it is available is amazing. The message from the principal after the first day was an excellent touch.
I knew I loved living in Fishers before this experience. While we chose Fishers in part for the school system, there is no adequate way to capture the wonderful experience of the school system until you are part of it. Kudos for a wonderful start of the year. Keep up the excellent work!