Though they hadn’t quite returned for class, students attending Quinn Elementary School this year gathered at the playground for some fun while meeting their peers and teachers.

Each school in the district gave their students a similar opportunity to begin forming these connections ahead of the Wednesday, Aug. 27 start of the academic year.

As bubbles flowed through the warm evening air, Richie Cabral, 5, ran around in the mulch with another student. 

Watching from the side, his mother, Maddison Cabral, said despite being a teacher herself at Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, the idea of her son entering kindergarten this year makes her nervous. 

“He will be fine and I know he will be fine,” she said. “I’m still nervous just because it’s his first day. There’s a lot of transitions, but they’ve been so great so far that I know he’ll be fine.”

Having been in preschool for a while now, Cabral added she is looking forward to seeing his curriculum and learning opportunities expanded.

“In preschool, he’s been learning a lot and it’s great, but the teacher turnover is sometimes a little bit higher and just what he learns on the day-to-day is … sometimes the exact same thing as the previous year,” she said.

Stephanie Rodricks’ shared similar sentiments as her daughters Sofia, 5, and Isabell, 2, enjoyed ice cream from a truck. 

“I’m nervous, but I’m excited. She’s going to do good. She’s excited,” Rodricks said of Sofia.

She added she is most excited for all the interactions she’ll have with her peers and new learning opportunities. 

It’s “a new world,” Rodricks said.

Kim Johansen, a bus driver for Dartmouth Public Schools, said while the start of the school year typically brings excitement for her and her family, she’s feeling “bummed” this year that she’ll have to miss out. 

Having had a medical procedure this past summer, Johansen won’t be returning for work until November. But in the meantime, she is helping her two granddaughters get ready for the start of their school year. 

One of whom, 7-year-old Noella Bardsley, she accompanied at the Quinn playground. Noella said she was most looking forward to seeing her friends and previous teachers as she heads into the second grade.

Johansen noted, “We had a very good summer,” having spent most of it off camping in Maine.

“It was such a good bonding experience,” she said. 

Joining Noella as Quinn second graders this year is 7-year-olds Tyler Rose-Wells and Max Vafides. 

While good friends, the two have a very different outlook on what they expect their year to look like. 

While Max itches for the games of tag that await him during recess, Tyler says he looks forward to picking up more books on animals from the library. 

And while Tyler dreads the idea of gym, Max says he is not ready to be back in art class.

The two had exciting summers traveling — both having met up with cousins in Florida. 

Drawing on the cement with colorful chalk, Eloise Machado, 7, crafted a sun. 

Her mom, Lauren Machado, said Eloise has been loving Quinn School and is excited to return this year despite finding out she won’t be in the same class as her best friend.

Eloise did note she is looking forward to having her brother join her at Quinn as he begins kindergarten — and gym, so she can see her favorite teacher.

Ava O’Neil, 7 about turn 8, will also be going into second grade. Despite dreading the idea of running laps in the gym, Ava said she looks forward to seeing all her friends.

She said she loves how nice everyone is at Quinn School, adding they are always doing “cool” activities, such as the creative projects she does in her art class.

Maurine O’Neil said she is excited to see Ava become more independent as she advances through school.