The first day of school: Bells, bikes, buses and big feelings

0:00It's Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, and the start of the school year. And that means across the US more than 54 million students have classes tomorrow. Kids and their parents have a lot of feelings about it. Are you excited for first grade? No. What are you most hoping for? Nothing. Are you gonna make any friends? Not interested. All right. This is a great start for a great first day. Sounds about right. That is Michelle Magnuson and her daughter, Neve. Teachers and principals often welcome students back in their own special ways. Our reporters set out to capture some of the magic of that first day of school this year at three different schools across the country from elementary school to high school. We will start with NPR's Genocumeta in Los Angeles. The San Diego and welcome to Michael Terena's Keri 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.

1:01How do you feel? I'm excited to tell her 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 to meet teachers and new friends. And 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 need... 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 kindergartners all year long, like fifth grader Noemi Uyua. I think by being a toolbox coach, I can help the kindergartners 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'll 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 kindergartners use their emotional tools like...

2:07Breathing 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. To welcome their new best friends, Noemi and Gerald head to a kindergarten classroom. My name is Gerald. You want to know who you are? What do you bring your parents to? Yeah, let's go see Gerald. Gerald will 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. Have you ever done some fun tech school actually? It's really fun. When you go to fifth grade or fourth grade, you're going to make a roller coaster. As Mitchell Torrena's newest eagles had home, their pre-first day of school jitter seemed to leave with them. Great job lining up! And early the next morning, many of the same faces are crowded at the front gates.

3:08I 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 Murrugliano gives him a high five and takes over. Leading 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. Shanaukeh Mepha and Pair News, Mitchell Torrena 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.

4:08It 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. I'm biking, Daddy. You don't have to wait there in the long run. 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 Owen my last year classmates and maybe some new and maybe make some new friends.

5:12For NPR News, I'm Beth Wallace in Edmund, Oklahoma. I'm Elizabeth Miller in Oregon. It'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 through 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. Sometimes when you open a new facility it can look a little sterile and this one does not feel that way. It's vibrant, it feels like the old Beaverton. The old Beaverton, with some new touches, like adjustable classroom lights.

6:13Leah 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. Natural 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 will 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.

7:17In the brand new building of 1400 students he says it just felt welcoming. For NPR News I'm Elizabeth Miller in Beaverton, Oregon. Elizabeth Miller is a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting. She's also heard from reporter Beth Wallace in Edmund Oklahoma and NPR's Junaki Metta in Los Angeles.