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PELHAM, N.Y. Christine Farahat's two children will start school Wednesday along with most other children in the Pelham School District. Farahat and her children will return to the daily routine that the school year brings.
The mother of two has already shopped for school supplies, clothes and snacks for her children. The return of the school year has Farahat excited.
"I'm that type of parent," Farahat said. "Have you ever seen that commercial for Staples where the parent is joyfully skipping and buying supplies? That's me."
Students returning to Pelham schools will have the chance to be a part of several initiatives that the school district began in the past few years. The district will begin its second year of using a college model to emphasize writing at the elementary school level, according to Angela Cox, public information officer for the Pelham School District.
Cox said the district would like to improve on the mastery level, which requires a grade of 85 or more, of the New York State Regents Exams for its high school students. The district will also analyze its math and social studies curriculums this year.
The district also wants to create more opportunity for students to participate in Advanced Placement classes, according to Cox. In 2007, 153 students participated in AP classes. That number jumped to 213 last year.
Farahat, who runs the Gracious Living Design Studio on Fifth Avenue, has a daughter who will start fourth grade at Hutchinson Elementary School and a son who will start second grade there. She said her daughter is excited about her teacher but still reluctant to go back to school, while her son has "come to grips" with his teacher.
Her daughter will rejoin the Girl Scouts this year, and Farahat said she wants to find a Boy Scout troop for her son.
Farahat said now that she and her children have complete summer reading and back-to-school shopping, her job is to make sure they get up on time and actually get to school.
"The lazy days of summer are over," Farahat said.
Are you ready for your children to go back to school? What is the first day of school like for you as a parent? Comment below, on our Facebook page or on Twitter @DailyPelham.
Contact Pelham reporter Andrew Meola at ameola@thedailypelham.com.
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