Irish smiles and tears as school resumes

Emotional back to school day for Irish-American children in Yonkers

“It’s a Strawberry Shortcake bag,” Aoife informed the Irish Voice/IrishCentral as she waved at a little boy she recognized across the yard. 

Aoife was excited to start school. She was looking forward to having more time with her friends in the playground and getting to know other kids.

“I will make new friends,” she said confidently.

Thinking about the academic side of school, Aoife said she was going to be learning “letters” on her first day at school.

While Aoife’s baby sister Maeve was at home eating Cheerios, the oldest Birdy child wasn’t fazed by the amount of traffic coming into the schoolyard. As long as she could see her friends, she wasn’t bothered.

Aoife’s friend Ava arrived through the school gates moments after and she was elated.

“Hi,” Aoife smiled from ear to ear as she welcomed her friend Ava to her new school.

Ava, 4, was accompanied on her first day of kindergarten by her mommy Fidelma and her daddy Fergal Byrne, her older brother Dylan, 6, her brother Shane, 3, and her little sister Jenna, 21 months.

This is Ava’s second year at the Yonkers Montessori Academy. Last year she was a pupil in the pre-kindergarten class. 

Fidelma, who hails from County Louth, and Shane, from County Monaghan, were excited to see Ava back to school. Unfortunately, Ava didn’t share her parents’ enthusiasm.

She said she wanted to “stay at home” instead to going to school. As Ava clung on to her sister Jenna’s stroller, she made sure her mommy wasn’t far from her side.

Older brother Dylan, who was ready for the challenge of second grade on Tuesday, said he would make it his business to look out for his little sister at school. But in the meantime he would be busy getting to know his new teacher, catching up with his school friends and doing his favorite thing, “art.”

Ava did admit the one thing she was looking forward about school was “playing outside” with her friends. And she promised her mom she would “help” all the new pre-kindergarten children settle into school life this year.

The Devaney family was also getting ready to send the last of their four girls to school on Tuesday.

Siobhan and Vincent Devaney from County Dublin, now living in Yonkers, had four uniforms to press and four lunch boxes to pack on Monday night.

Kate, 9, Lilly, 7, Aine, 5, and their youngest, Sinead, 4, stuck together on Tuesday as they prepared to go up the steps and through the large doors of the Montessori school.

It was Sinead’s first day. She was very excited to meet her teacher, Ms. Costa.

​
Nster.com