Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Sep 10/01) - Children from around the North donned their new school clothes recently and packed-up their brand new notebooks, saying goodbye to mom and dad as they headed off to take that giant step into Grade 1.

Marcey Wiedrick, who attended her first day in Grade 1 at JBT Elementary in Fort Smith, said she wasn't worried, and was prepared for a safe first day.

"I had to put my hair in a pony, so glue and paint won't get on it -- because my hair is long," said Marcey.

She said she enjoyed kindergarten with Mrs. O'Hagen, but was somewhat concerned about the big step into Grade 1.

"You have to read in there," she said, sounding a little worried. "But I'm gonna go to Mrs. Harney's library, 'cause she's got lotsa books in there."

On Cheyenne Tambour's first day at Chief Sunrise School on the Xatl'odechee Reserve, she had a great time building a "big tower" with her classmates and doing crafts, but enjoyed lunch the most.

"My mom cooked me soup and a hamburger outside and it was really fun," Cheyenne said, giggling. "And my mom gave me 10 bucks and I went to the store to buy something for my kitties."

Christopher Sutton enjoyed his first day in Ms. Fehr's class at Princess Alexandra school in Hay River.

Christopher said they get to learn pluses and minuses, but the big difference between kindergarten and Grade 1 is having a place to call his own.

"You get to have your own desk," Christopher said, adding that the new school schedule, however, is somewhat tiring. "And you have to go for the full day."