ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Pencils, check. Paper, check. Markers, tissues, pens, hand sanitizer, a mat for the younger ones to nap on, binders, and other supplies, Check, check and check.

Getting to meet your teacher and to ask questions before school begins.

Priceless.

That was the scene at Robertsdale Elementary School and schools throughout Baldwin County last Friday.

Parents with their youngsters in tow streamed into the school, looking to meet their child’s teacher, and to take care of any last-minute paperwork.

Parents were so eager and school personnel were ready, so a few minutes before the session was to start Friday afternoon, parents were heading into classrooms, and a few could be seen leaving, satisfied expressions on their faces.

“Well, this is supposed to start in one minute,” chuckled Charles Downey, principal of Robertsdale Elementary.

The event makes the opening of school a little easier, Downey explained as he directed lost parents and greeted returning students.

“It allows the student to know who their teacher is going to be and lets the parents exchange a few words (with the teacher), the students can bring in supplies, and find where in the building their classroom is.”

Brandy Darden was helping her daughter, Kelsea, settle into her desk in kindergarten.

“I’m more nervous than she is,” said Darden. Kelsea is the first of Darden’s children to go to school and it was clear that the impending separation was weighing on her mind.

“I hope she makes friends,” said Darden as she and Kelsea put together some paperwork.

Kelsea’s teacher is Leighann Swindle who brings a lot of experience to the classroom She used to work for the Alabama Department of Education and has many years of teaching experience. She’s also a mother and can remember when her child went to school.

“I was traumatized,” she said with a laugh, “I want to use this time so we (teacher, parents and students) can learn about each other.”

For sixth-grade teacher Paula Buettner, “Getting to know a new set of students” is one of the jobs and challenges of the new school year.

For one of Buettner’s students, Ashton Lowery, school does not mean reading writing and arithmetic, but banging on a drum all day.

“I’m looking forward to band,” he said. “I want to play base drums.”

For Emily Pierce, finding her seat meant learning that Buettner had placed her close to some friends.

Pierce, who says her favorite subject is math, was clearly delighted.

“It will all change soon,” said Buettner.

This was the 39th time Downey has seen school open.

“It’s a new experience for the classroom teacher, the parent and the student,” he said.

He believes that being able to meet the teacher before the first day of school “inspires confidence” in both parents and students.

“It’s a natural experience for parents to have the worries they are having,” said Downey. “I remember 25 years ago I had to pull kindergartners and their parents apart.”