Kids, parents ready as a new school year begins
Wednesday marks the first day of school for many Bend-La Pine Schools students, which made Tuesday night a time to pack lunches, prepare schedules and get ready to start the new school year on the right foot.
The Joyce family of Bend was getting ready to say goodbye to summer and hello to a new school year.
The three kids are all excited for the upcoming year and were kind enough to let NewsChannel 21 into their home to show us their school night routine.
The oldest, Maddie, is headed off to middle school this year, while her younger brother, Sam, is going to be in fourth grade. The youngest, Evan, starts kindergarten this year as well.
They all said they are ready for the year ahead and they’re excited to learn, although they did say they are looking forward to recess the most.
“I want to be able to turn my homework in on time,” Maddie said. “I’ve always been pretty good at doing that, but there is probably going to be a little more homework in middle school then there is in elementary. So and I want to try and do my best.”
Sam added that he wants to “probably get better at listening” while in class this year.
And Evan is ready to start his new adventure.
“I’m excited to see my friends in my school,” Evan said.
Meanwhile, their parents, Ben and Becky, are ready to get back into the routine of the school year, although they say they’ll miss the summertime fun they were all able to enjoy together.
“Going back to school is definitely bittersweet, because Bend in the summer is amazing, and we’ve had all kinds of wonderful adventures,” Ben Joyce said. “But it’s also challenging, not having the schedule.”
“It’s definitely more routine during the school year,” Becky Joyce said. “During the summer, we are pretty relaxed and pretty flexible, and we had some pretty late nights, which is great. The kids are at an age where we can hang out with neighbors until 10, 10:15. But when school’s back in session I’m like, ‘Home at 8, shower, in bed.'”
Each year, the Joyces throw a party of sorts for the kids the day before school starts, to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
Each child got a foil balloon representing the grade they are headed into, and they had a dinner of homemade French fries and cheeseburgers to kick off the year.
The kids even packed their lunches for Wednesday, so they will waste no time getting out the door in the morning.
The parents added they love that they are able to raise their kids in Bend and allow them not only to go to such great schools, but also to grow up being active and playing outside with neighbors year-round.
