Episode 153: A Fun Time Talking to Students About the New School Year

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are headed back to class with big expectations, confident this school year will be one to remember. On this episode of the Supercast, we talk to students about what they want and hope for as they settle into a new school year, making new friends and memories. We're excited to let the learning begin for the 2022-23 school year. Enjoying a few laughs along the way.

We are here in Sunset Ridge Middle School for the first day of the 2022-23 school year. You can feel the excitement in the air. We're here with the students. Tell me your name.

Taylor:
I'm Taylor.

Anthony Godfrey:
Taylor, what grade are you in?

Taylor:
I'm going into ninth grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Going into ninth grade. You're starting high school. Feels good, right?

Taylor:
Yeah, for sure. I'm super hyped for it.

Anthony Godfrey:
What are you looking forward to most?

Taylor:
I don't know. Just a new school year. New teachers. I'm taking a ballroom, so that'll be fun. 

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.. Looking forward to ballroom. That's awesome. I'm sure they're glad to have you in there now. Tell me does the fact that it's high school now change your viewpoint a little bit?

Taylor:
Little bit. I feel like I'm kind of pressured to do more things. Kind of just do better in school because the last few years I've kind of been slacking off a little bit. Yeah. So I'm kind of looking forward to a new mindset and just getting ready for this new school year.

Anthony Godfrey:
Ninth grade does stay with you a little longer than eighth grade. Grade wise and transcript wise. But, I'm sure you're well prepared and ready to go.

Taylor:
Oh yeah, for sure. I'm taking on the challenge. I'm ready for it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Are you excited to see friends that you haven't seen much over the summer?

Taylor:
Yeah. Yeah. I'm seeing a bunch of people here I forgot about, to be honest, I'm like, oh my gosh, I totally forgot about that person. So yeah. I'm glad to be back.

Anthony Godfrey:
They're the friends that are close and then they're the acquaintances. That next circle out of people you know. And hopefully everyone feels like they belong and it's an exciting time for everybody.

Taylor:
Oh yeah, for sure. I'm super excited to be back.

Anthony Godfrey:
What did you miss the most over the summer?

Taylor:
Just the energy. You know this school man, it's everyone. Everyone's friends. I swear everyone, everyone knows each other. So being back in this just feels good to have the energy back and being with my people. For sure.

Anthony Godfrey:
I know your teachers and your principal work really hard to create that atmosphere. So they'll be very glad to hear that. Oh yeah, for sure. Well, I wish you the very best. I'm sure it's gonna be a great year.

Taylor:
Thank you so much. I appreciate you.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right. We're here with more students at Sunset Ridge Middle School. Tell me your names.

Shekinah:
My name is Shekinah.

Elizabeth:
I'm Elizabeth.

Rebecca:
I'm Rebecca.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what are you most excited about this year?

Shekinah:
I mean, if I'm being honest, I'm just really excited to be, you know, circulating classes. It makes me feel, you know, I guess in a way, grown up. I guess.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. You're going into seventh grade? So you're excited about having multiple teachers now? 

Shekinah:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
And where were you in sixth grade?

Shekinah:
I was in Fox Hollow.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what, what class are you looking forward to most?

Shekinah:
Probably science.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah? What do you like about science?

Shekinah:
You get to do experiments, you know you know, use the beakers and whatnot. So, and I just think science is really cool and whatnot.

Anthony Godfrey:
Have you tried out your locker?

Shekinah:
It's a lot more complicated than I thought it was.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, they're not as easy as they should be. It takes some doing. Practice that locker and it'll come in handy. What thoughts did you have in the days leading up to today?

Shekinah:
I mean, overall, I was just really nervous, but I kept on telling myself that I'm gonna have a great year. You know, cuz I'm gonna really push forward.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's exciting to have a fresh start. To be in a new school. New teachers. Get to make some new friends. And what's really thrilling to me, is look at all these people that you're gonna get a chance to connect with. Let's talk with your sisters. And what grade are you going into?

Elizabeth:
Ninth.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what excites you about going into ninth grade? You're a high schooler now.

Elizabeth:
I think taking the babies home for child development.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. What class are you looking forward to most?

Elizabeth:
Child development.

Anthony Godfrey:
Child Development. And why is that?

Elizabeth:
I don't know. It's my favorite teacher. So

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. That makes a difference. If your favorite teacher is teaching something you want to be part of that. Have you been here at Sunset Ridge all three years? And have you looked forward to being a ninth grader for both of those years?

Elizabeth:
Not really.

Anthony Godfrey:
Why not?

Elizabeth:
I just know that it's a little bit stressful because everything starts to count now. 

Anthony Godfrey:
It does count more. That transcript follows you, but you're up for it. You'll do great.

Elizabeth:
Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:
So what grade are you going in? What grade are you starting?

Rebecca:
I'm ninth.

Anthony Godfrey:
And how does it feel to be a high schooler?

Rebecca:
Not really different.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right. And what class are you looking forward to most?

Rebecca:
Maybe like AP Human Geography.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, that's gonna be a good one. That's gonna be a good one. What did you miss most over the summer?

Rebecca:
Not really anything. Maybe friends I guess.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Okay. Maybe friends. All right friends out there. She really did miss you. She just doesn't want to admit it. All right. Have a great day and a great school year, guys. 

Audrey Fish, Principal of Sunset Ridge Middle School. How does it feel to have day one underway?

Audrey Fish:
Oh my gosh. I couldn't be happier. This day has been long awaited for and the energy, and the enthusiasm, and the faces on these children are just priceless.

Anthony Godfrey:
As I've talked with kids, I've talked with employees and teachers over the last week. I think there's more excitement for this year than for any year I can remember.

Audrey Fish:
I would agree with that too. It has been just, just we're ready to be back together. Yeah, we're ready to be comfortable with one another reconnecting and finding where we fit so we can learn and grow.

Anthony Godfrey:
You know, coming here and, and interviewing students just before school. The buzz was palpable, just the excitement at kids connecting with each other, again, seeing each other. And I think we're gonna be able to connect this year better than we ever have. Not that we're taking our defenses down or that we aren't being cautious, but I think we're going to have the ability to connect with each other better than we have for a long time.

Audrey Fish:
I would agree with that. Last spring we hosted our first spirit bowl assembly. Kind of giving them a feel of what a high school spirit bowl would feel like. And they could sit where they wanted, the energy and the enthusiasm. And now they're like, we gotta do that again because it was bringing back that enthusiasm for school and not what we've experienced. With part of the pandemic can feel kind of humdrum and so it's reliving our lives in a better way.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, a lot of people wonder, what does everybody do over the summer? And a principal works really hard to plan, to hire, to get everything going for the year to come. And so it really is, it reaches a crescendo and you gradually get there because there are administrator meetings that start us off and then the teachers come back and now to have the students back, the school is really underway.

Audrey Fish:
Agreed. And you have downtime and you take, I'm intentional with my family. As we should be, to renew, and as we come back to our careers, this, we have to feel like family here too. And the connections with one another. But you're right. The work, the work continues even over the summer. And so I feel like we've got some great values that we're rolling out this year. Just to be more intentional about being respectful, responsible, and safe. So those are our Falcon values that we worked on this summer with the community and other stakeholders to just say, ‘Hey, this is who we are and this is what it looks like in the nest.’

Anthony Godfrey:
What are you looking forward to most this year,

Audrey Fish:
Meeting children in their need and watching them grow. I'm looking forward to those connections and meeting more of the community because I've had one year in this community. And now I'm looking forward to broadening my soaring abilities and getting to know more of the Falcon Nation, cuz they just are awesome. And it's gonna be great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's really nice to be here in the nest with you. And as you can hear in the background, everyone's gone to class. It's a magical moment when all that planning comes to fruition and everyone's where they're supposed to be. So thanks for your hard work and for the hard work of your faculty and staff to make this work and here's to a great year.

Audrey Fish:
Awesome. Thank you Superintendent.

Anthony Godfrey:

Stay with us. When we come back, we'll hear from some parents about their hopes for the new school year.

Break:
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Anthony Godfrey:

We're at Mountain Shadows Elementary, stopping in on fourth grade on the very first day of school.

Susan Allen:
Mrs. Durrant, Mrs. Suisuico, and we have Dr. Godfrey who is our superintendent. You guys say hello?

Students:
Hello.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hi everybody. Has anyone been looking forward to the school year starting out? Yes you have. What have you been looking forward to most? Math? Who's looking forward to math? Where are you? All right. What do you love about math?

Rebekah:
The thing is I'm trying to learn math.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, okay. Well, Rebekah, I walked in, we're at less than 10 minutes into class and you're already learning math. So all your dreams are coming true. 

Rebekah:
It's multiplication that I'm trying to work on right now.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. You memorizing that and learning the concepts behind it? Yeah. All right. Let's see. How about Gage, what's on your mind as the school year starts?

Gage:
Probably history.

Anthony Godfrey:
History. Okay. You've got a NASA shirt on. Are you kind of a STEM dude? Are you interested in science and flying to the moon or is that just a cool shirt?

Gage:
Just kind of, so kind of history and science is what I'm into.

Anthony Godfrey:
History and science. Very good. I love it. What else are you guys into? Let's see. Kynli, what are you into?

Kynli:
I'm into art and math.

Anthony Godfrey:
What kind of art are you into the most?

Kynli:
I'm into like sketching and stuff like that.

Anthony Godfrey:
Sketching. All right. I like to doodle as well. Keeps me focused. Ivy, how about you? What are you looking forward to this year? 

Ivy:
Art and reading.

Anthony Godfrey:
Art and reading. Well, you know, what's exciting is that when you're in second grade, you get art, you get reading, you get math, you get science, you get history, you get the whole shebang. So it's gonna be an exciting year. Anyone excited to be back with friends? Oh yes. That's the best part isn't it? All right. Well, I hope you guys have a great year. I know it's gonna be awesome. Thanks for letting me stop in your class and I will interrupt your learning no longer.

We're talking now with Traci, who is a parent of a second grader and a fourth grader at Mountain Shadows Elementary. We just talked with Kenslee and she thinks that you're okay with the start of school coming.

Traci:
Yes, I am so excited. I'm totally okay with this.

Anthony Godfrey:
She said that now you can work without distraction.

Traci:
Yes. Yes, I can get my work done in a much more timely manner. It'll be really nice to have 'em back in school.

Anthony Godfrey:
I get really focused on the fresh year, all the learning that's gonna happen. But I forget the boost this is to parents also. That we're back in a routine and the world has some order to it once again.

Traci:
Yes. We tried having some structure over the summertime by doing chores and routine, having a morning routine, reading for 20 minutes, getting dressed, getting up and ready for the day. It's not the same as getting up and getting to school and doing the routine. So yeah, we're excited for the routine part of it as well.

Anthony Godfrey:
There's nothing like those teachers and friends waiting for you at school to get things going in a way that they can't really get going in the summer. I'm remembering the talk I had with my 13 year old at the beginning of the summer about the exact same type of schedule. We're gonna read, we're gonna do this. We're gonna do that. It didn't really work out. So I'm really glad that he is now in the hands of seven capable people throughout the day.

Traci:
Yes. Yes. Same with us. Ours actually worked out pretty well cuz I had my work routine. So I had to get the kids on routine. Of course you have to go and say, get off electronics. I already asked you to, get off electronics and get your chores done, but we're ready for the routine and their friendships. They're excited to be back with their friends.

Anthony Godfrey:
So working from home, you kind of had them anchored to your work schedule.

Traci:
Yes. Yep. I had to have 'em anchored my work schedule so I could do my work while maintaining having them at home.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's good. That sounds like it worked out really well. Well, congratulations on being at the start of a new school year and I think it's gonna be a great one.

Traci:
Thank you. We're really excited. We're excited for fourth grade.

Tina Susuico:
So I'm Tina Susuico, the principal here at Mount Shadows. This is my fourth year here and it's amazing.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what have you been looking forward to?

Tina Susuico:
Really nicely that our kids are coming back to a little bit of normalcy, whatever that looks like. We're excited to have our kids back in school, playing with each other, learning from each other, being interactive and just making a fun year.

Anthony Godfrey:
It was really fun to be here as kids were lining up, getting ready to go. Teachers are talking with kids before they come in the building. It's an exciting time. I've felt energy everywhere I've been this morning just because I think there's been more anticipation this year than even in years past.

Tina Susuico:
I totally agree. And I think that shows,like just with our community coming in last night, we had our back to school night. They're excited to have their kids back in school. And like I said, just a little bit of normalcy.

Anthony Godfrey:
What would you say to parents out there who have just sent their kids off to school?

Tina Susuico:
They're in a great place. We have caring teachers. And one of the things I ask my teachers during faculty meeting is why they choose to be here at Mountain Shadows. They could go anywhere else. There's a teacher shortage out there. So why do they choose to stay here? And it's because it's a family and the community's a family. You know, they look at their colleagues as family and friends. It's supportive, it's trusting. So kids are in great hands here.

Anthony Godfrey:
We've known that about Mountain Shadows for years. So thank you for being such an important part of that.

Tina Susuico:
Well thank you for interviewing me today. Love it.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right. Have a great week and a great year.

Tina Susuico:

Thank you, you too.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.