Recess is a Popular Subject Among Crop of First Graders-September 6, 1984

First-grader Amy Frigulietti sat at her desk yesterday, reaching inside to rearrange her freshly sharpened pencils, pens, and a notebook featuring a picture of Michael Jackson on the cover. Like many of her peers across Norwood, 6-year-old Amy was eager for the new term in teacher Sandy Barner‘s class at Prescott Elementary School, though she readily admitted her favorite part of the day was recess.

Classmate Sarah Minkin, 6, shared similar sentiments, noting a touch of sadness at summer’s end but acknowledging that school offered plenty of new friends to play with—especially at recess.

For youngsters across Norwood’s six elementary schools, yesterday morning marked the official end of summer and the beginning of years of reading, writing, and homework. Despite the academic journey ahead, the 21 students in Barner’s classroom beamed with eagerness, attentively practicing penmanship and lining up for desk conferences. Barner was serving as a substitute for Elaine Perry, who was scheduled to return in a few weeks, while teacher Nancy Lane welcomed an additional 23 first graders in her own classroom.

While a few students admitted to opening-day jitters—such as Lisa Belmonte, who felt nervous upon waking, and Andrew Zoppo, who confessed to morning worries—the anxiety quickly faded as the children settled into their new routines.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger