As a new school year begins, how are students and parents feeling?

0:00It's consider this where every day we go deep on one big new story. Today, the right of passage that's the start of a new school year. It's Labor Day which marks the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of another school year. Bells are ringing, loud speakers are blaring, and across the country more than 54 million students are returning to classrooms. It's so, it's gonna be so great. Some students had big feelings. How do you feel about the first day of school? It's okay. Was anybody a little scared or nervous to come to school today? I mean, I mean, you're good. Consider this. A new school year can be exciting and nerve-wracking for students, parents, and teachers. Our reporters captured those first day of school feelings and various schools around the country.

1:00From NPR, I'm Scott Detreau. Billionaire Mark Cuban has stared into the belly of the beast of America's healthcare system. I mean, it's so bad. You can go through a long list of really quality hospitals and they don't know their costs. So, can Medicare for all be a solution? We take a hard look at the cost of the program along with US healthcare itself. Find this and hear more stories from the indicator from Planet Money on the NPR app. This is Terry Gross, host of Fresh Air. I interviewed feminist icon Gloria Steinem several times over the years, and we've compiled a special episode to celebrate her life and legacy. Women become ourselves after 50. We drop a lot of baggage and really become much more our true selves. Find it on the NPR app or wherever you listen to Fresh Air. It's considered this from NPR.

2:04Let's make a quick video for grandma. Are you excited for first grade? No. What are you most hoping for? Nothing. Are you going to make any friends? Not interested. Alright, this is a great start for a great first day. Nive is among millions of students who are heading back to school. She was speaking to her mother, Michelle Magnison. Our reporters set out to three different schools around the country, from elementary school to high school to capture the sights, sounds, and feelings of returning back to school. We begin with NPR as Junaki Mehta and Los Angeles. The S&CO and welcome to Michael Terena's three elementary school. Here at Mitchell Terena, home of the mighty Eagles, kindergarteners are gearing up to go to elementary school for the very first time. And they have some big feelings. How do you feel? I'm excited to turn around about Kinder. I'm nervous. Excited! To help her newest students with this big transition, principal Nicole Sekalyrian welcomes them one day early for a sneak peek at school

3:10to meet teachers and new friends. Then we have some other special friends here. About six years ago, they started here at school just like you. And now they're fifth graders and they leave. The fifth graders, Sekalyrian, is talking about are all dressed in bright blue shirts that say toolbox coach across their chest. Their job is to mentor kindergarteners all year long, like fifth grader Noemi Uyowa. I think by being a toolbox coach, I can help the kindergarteners learn how to harness their emotions. And also have better friends because when I was in kindergarten, I was really shy. But with experience with being with kids that have experience, it will be easier to make friends and they'll be probably less shy. Fellow fifth grader Gerald Gomez Reina says a big part of the job is to help kindergarteners use their emotional tools like... Breathing and quiet safe place and garbage can. What's garbage can? Garbage can is when you throw away feelings if you get sad or mad.

4:10To welcome their newest friends, Noemi and Gerald head to a kindergarten classroom. My name is Gerald. You want to know how to use your accent? What do you want to bring your parents to? Yeah, let's go see Gerald. She'll show us. Gerald shows students their rug spots and cubbies while Noemi hands out name tags. kindergarteners Sora Emery Choi tells Gerald she is over the moon about starting school. I'm most excited about learning more math and actually reading. You want to look one of the funnest things in school? What? Science. That's what we've done since class. It's really fun. When you go to fifth grade or fourth grade, you're going to make a roller coaster. As Mitchell's Reina's newest eagles head home, their pre-first day of school jitter is seen to leave with them. Great job lining up! And early the next morning, many of the same faces are crowded at the front gates. I love you. Have a beautiful day. Five year old Ian Patterson's entire family showed up to drop him off. And before his mom has a chance to let go of his hand, fifth grade or Maryland Murrig Liano

5:14gives him a high five and takes over. Leaning Ian into the school gates. What are your favorite things to do? Play. Oh my gosh. There's so many games in kindergarten. You're going to love all your friends and you'll be making the ones every day. Shanaaki Mehta and Pair News, Mitchell Terena Street Elementary in Los Angeles. And I'm Beth Wallace with state impact in Edmund, Oklahoma. Okay, let's go. About 25 students and parents are meeting in a park before riding their bikes to Will Rogers Elementary on their first day of school. Woo-hoo! Happy first day everybody! Mom Michelle Magnuson organizes the bike bus, which means once a week to ride together. Yay! You got a new bike! Did you get a new bike? Who? Yes. It looks fabulous. Once everyone's gathered, the ride begins. Nearing the school, first grader Hayden Raup steers his black, blue and green bike past a line of cars stretching around the corner. Look biking, Jackie!

6:15Get out because you don't have to wait in a long line. I'm like, you guys are the bikes! The bike bus started after parents and kids here followed the example of similar efforts in Oregon and encouraging kids to get out and pedal. Ten minutes later, everyone locks up their bikes on the racks at the school. Hayden's older brother, third grader Owen, says his favorite part of the bike bus is going down a big hill. I like the reason my face when I'm going really fast on my bike. That's nice for a morning when temperatures are climbing and what's he looking forward to most this year? I'm really excited to see all of my last year classmates and maybe some new and maybe make some new friends. For NPR News, I'm Beth Wallace in Edmund, Oklahoma. I'm Elizabeth Miller in Oregon.

7:15It's the first day of school at Beaverton High, just outside of Portland, and no one really knows where they're going. Do you need help? We're just doing 87. 287 is going to be down this way and to the right. Beaverton High School is brand new to everyone, from teachers down to the students. There's a state-of-the-art theater with bright orange seats and big LED screens in the gym. Colorful murals line the halls and the library. But the school year started off as it has for the past 110 years here, with the ringing of the original schoolhouse bell. Andrew Curl is the principal. So sometimes when you open a new facility it can look a little sterile and this one does not feel that way. If there's vibrant, it feels like the old Beaverton. The old Beaverton, with some new touches, like adjustable classroom lights. Leah Beard's special education classroom features soft overhead lights as students start their day. The technology in here is amazing we can change the light color to support students' sensory needs.

8:18Natural light floods the classroom through large windows, something Beard didn't have in the old building. Outside of Beard's classroom is a colorful mosaic created by ceramic students. Beard tells her class to look for the sea turtle in the corner to find their way. So it's not only a visual reminder but a tactile one. So as we're navigating a massively large building, we've got lots of different visual and sensory cues. In another class, several hallways away. sophomore S.J. Black talks about the class he's most excited about. Child development. I feel like it would be it would be nice to figure out how to like take care of a kid. So for when that time comes to be like a parent, I'll know what to do. Sitting next to him, sophomore Andrew Perez says he's getting used to his new digs. I was a little intimidated at first because there's a lot of people outside and just like it was really big. But once I got in it felt really warm. In the brand new building of 1400 students, he says it just felt welcoming. For NPR News, I'm Elizabeth Miller in Beaverton, Oregon.

9:19Elizabeth Miller is a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting. We also heard from reporter Beth Wallace in Edmund, Oklahoma and Janaki Metta in Los Angeles. VPM's Megan Paulie also contributed reporting to this episode. This episode was produced by Lauren McGocchi and Karen Zamora with Audio Engineering by Ted Meebe. Our director is Mark Rivers. It was edited by Niervi Shah, Stephen Drummond and Tim Beat Air Muse. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Gourning. It's considered this from NPR, I'm Scott Detro. History is intriguing, but unlike the present, it can feel far off. On NPR's Thurline, we bring it back to life and put you in the middle of it. Go inside the stories from then that shaped the world we live in now. Find NPR's Thurline wherever you get your podcasts.

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