Sumac Elementary Kicks Off The New School Year

Sumac Elementary students squealed with delight at the sight of friends not seen all summer and gobbled down hamburgers from the In-N-Out truck as they anxiously awaited their 2010-2011 classroom assignments on the last day of summer vacation.

Sumac Elementary School's annual Kick Off Day was held on the school campus Tuesday evening to welcome another school year.

The In-N-Out truck was parked on the blacktop ready to feed hungry Sumac families and help parents make easy dinner plans the night before the first day of school. The cafeteria tables were packed with families enjoying the delicious treat and parents filling out their first day packets as they waited for the class lists to go up.

"The In-N-Out truck was a huge success," said Kick Off Day coordinator Lisa Schwartz, who has been working hard the last few weeks with her team of parent volunteers to organize the event. "We sold out of hamburgers completely." 

Stations were set up inside the multipurpose room so parents could shop for apparel, find out about volunteer and fundraising opportunities, sign up for 5-Star Sports and Design-it-in-Wood afterschool enrichment programs or YMCA afterschool childcare, and purchase yearbooks.

"The apparel is really cute this year," said fourth grade parent Pamela Baron.  These are not your standard boxy t-shirts with the school name stamped on the front.  These are really stylish.  I might even have to get one for myself this year as well as for my son."

Fifth-grader Savanna Richards had mixed feelings about going back to school. 

"I'm kind of sad that summer is over, but it is fun seeing all my friends," she said. "And having the In-N-Out truck is so cool. They should have that here all the time."

Inside the multipurpose room, volunteer coordinator co-chairs Debby Pattiz and Supraja Kannan informed parents of available opportunities to participate throughout the school year.

"Everything from going around the classrooms portraying a famous and influential woman during Women in History Month to working the book fair or helping out at a booth at our new Fall Festival," said Pattiz, listing some examples for the parents. "We even have opportunities for parents who want to help but are so busy they can only do things from home."

Second-grade parent Mary Kusnier is the chairperson for this year's Fall Festival. 

"I opened my big mouth and kept telling everyone we should do a fall carnival like a lot of the other schools, and now guess who is in charge of doing Fall Festival," she said. "People seem really excited about it though, and more than willing to help out, so I think it's going to be a really great event."

As Sumac parents chatted with friends and shared their children's excitement over classroom assignments, they all seemed to have the same sentiment as fourth-grade parent Lisa Olson—"Summer was great, but I am so ready for these kids to get back to school."