Most of Clark County’s 81,000 public school students returned to school Wednesday.
Teacher Yulia Rogers settled 21 fifth-grade students on the floor into a circle in a portable classroom at Endeavour Elementary School. Not only was it the first day of school, but it was Rogers’ first day as a teacher.
“Are you excited for fifth grade? Is it going to be an awesome year? Are we going to have fun?” Rogers asked with enthusiasm.
Last year, she was a staff assistant in the English Language Learners program at Sunset Elementary School, another school in Evergreen Public Schools. For eight years before that, Rogers worked half-time for the district as a liaison for Russian families.
Rogers, 34, a Russian immigrant who has lived in Vancouver since 2004, hails from Omsk in western Siberia. She speaks four languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English and French. While she was working on a master’s degree in international affairs, she took the staff assistant job to have her summer off to defend her thesis.
All Clark County public schools, except for Woodland, have started school. Woodland students start school Sept. 9.
State law requires students to attend 180 days of school.
“I fell in love with working with kids in a school, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life,” said Rogers, who returned to school to earn her teaching certificate.
Her own children, ages 6 and 9, attend the Mandarin immersion program at Franklin Elementary School in Vancouver Public Schools. At home, Rogers speaks Russian to her own children. Her husband speaks English to them.
Rogers took care to decorate her classroom with fifth-graders in mind. A poster about the scientific method was tacked on a bulletin board. The books on the shelf are age-appropriate and timeless. They include Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” “Holes” by Louis Sacher, and “The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog” by John Erickson.
The adult-sized Nike and Oregon Ducks backpacks hanging on hooks along one wall suggested that these fifth-graders, in their last year of elementary school, are already preparing for middle school next year. None of the backpacks were plastered with Disney princesses or other juvenile movie characters.
Enthusiasm spreads
As they settled into their circle, Rogers said she wanted to learn more about her students. She asked them to tell their first name, “something you’re really good at and something you’re really excited about.”
Isaiah said, “I’m really excited for everything about fifth grade! I’ve been waiting for months!”
“I have too!” Rogers said. “When I found out I would be teaching at Endeavour, I could hardly wait to get here.”
Then it was Katherine’s turn to speak.
“I’m really good at rolling my tongue when I say R’s,” she said.
School district enrollment as of May:
Evergreen: 26,443
Vancouver: 23,399
Battle Ground: 13,564
Camas: 6,673
Washougal: 3,163
Ridgefield: 2,374
Woodland: 2,245
Hockinson: 1,873
La Center: 1,621
Green Mountain: 143
Total students 81,498
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Rogers’ face brightened.
“I am, too!”
She explained that when she speaks Russian, her native tongue, she rolls her R’s, too. Then she spoke in Russian to give an example.
Several students said they excel at drawing and art.
“I cannot draw very well,” Rogers admitted. “How about I teach you math, and you teach me how to draw?”
Some of the kids nodded.
Others said they excel at math, soccer, baseball and martial arts.
“I am good at defense for soccer,” offered Cole. “And I’m excited about lunch!”
However, not all of the students seemed enthusiastic to be back at school after the long summer break.
Jackson made no attempt to hide his feelings.
“I’m excited for school to be over,” he said.
“But we’re only an hour into the new school year!” exclaimed Rogers. “I am going to get you to love school.”
Before school started, Rogers spoke about her hopes for the school year.
“I am excited about having my own classroom and being able to impact students’ lives,” she said. “When you first see them walking through the door on the first day of school, there’s no greater feeling for a teacher. I want the kids to find that passion for learning something new every day.”
Susan Parrish: 360-735-4515; twitter.com/col_schools; susan.parrish@columbian.com; www.facebook.com/schoolsclarkcounty