“She’s had two years of preschool but she still doesn’t want to let go,” said Heather Magee, after comforting her daughter Mariah upon arriving at her first day of Kindergarten Tuesday morning. “I don’t who it’s harder for, her or me.” Fortunately for mom, after some tears and hugs, Mariah was soon busily coloring her picture of Humpty Dumpty with the other new students in Mrs. Lewis’ class at Long Beach Elementary.

Starting the 2007-08 school year was an expedition for an entire family as little ones wondered about the mysterious educational goings-on involving older siblings inside Ocean Park Elementary School.