Siblings embrace new schools

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August 14, 2015 - 12:00 AM

It’s not so much school that area students are eager for, but the activities that come with it.
Like band, sports and especially seeing friends after the three-month hiatus.
The drag? Getting up early on school mornings.
“Oh man, that’s going to be hard,” said Ethan Weide, 11.
As a sixth-grader, Ethan will be attending Iola Middle School for the first time.
“I’m a little nervous about having to switch classes and have so many different teachers,” said Ethan, the son of Andy and Lori Weide, rural Gas, and Kristen Weide, Kansas City.
“The best part is that Mr. Crusinbery, my principal from Jefferson (Elementary) will be going over to the middle school, too.”
Math and physical education are his favorite subjects, he said.
His stepsister, Abigail Hirt, 10, also will be up on the third floor of IMS as a fifth-grader, but will continue to have all of her classes in one room. The two talked about having lockers and the need to learn the combinations of their padlocks.
A calm and composed youngster, Abi, the daughter of Lori Weide and Corey Hirt, Lebo, is looking forward to just about everything about school. Social studies is her favorite subject and she puffs up a bit when she says she’s
never missed a day of school. This year, she’s determined to make all A’s. Tennis and gymnastics are her favorite extracurricular activities.
Typically she’s the first of the four siblings to be ready for school. She sets her alarm for 6:30 each morning and jumps into the shower.
“I’m not a breakfast person,” she says in a matter-of-fact voice, hinting that it takes up too much valuable time.
Her siblings, however, emit a collective groan at the idea of having to wake up early. Bedtime for the younger three is 8 p.m. The oldest, Katie Weide, 14, is expected to have lights out by 9 p.m. once school begins.
Setting a good example comes naturally to Katie, who excels at school and is a talented musician. This year she has qualified to play in the advanced levels of both the concert and jazz bands. She plays tenor saxophone, baritone and bass clarinet.
As an incoming freshman, Katie is expecting more homework, more responsibilities — and more fun.
“I like math,” she said, so beginning high school opens the door to a whole new world of math-related topics, beginning with geometry.
Is she intimidated by high school?
“Maybe a little, but I already know a lot of the kids from band, 4-H, and softball from over the summer,” she said.
And then there’s sister Lilli Hirt, who at age 7 is still in love with ponies and toys and make-believe. She brings out a new shirt she’s been saving to wear the first day of school. It’s dark purple with a big, sparkly heart applique.
“The sequins are reversible,” she says with glee as she demonstrates how they can be made to face either way.
“Mrs. Clark was the best teacher in the world,” Lilli declares of her first grade teacher Cindy Clark at McKinley Elementary. This year Lilli will attend Jefferson Elementary as part of the school district’s change to attendance centers. A familiar face will be principal Lori Maxwell.

THE SUMMER was a blur, the kids said.
Katie was busy with a paper route, band camp, softball, and helping with the summer band program.
All four children are members of Prairie Dell 4-H and the responsibilities of preparing for the county fair.
They spoke fondly of a week’s vacation to Colorado and the thrill of whitewater rafting and seeing the Royal Gorge.
Even so, the prospect of school is just as exciting.

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