DOWAGIAC — Students all across the Dowagiac Union School District were welcomed back Tuesday morning, signaling the official end of summer break. However, some students were entering school walls for the first time.

With the notable exception of Sister Lakes Elementary school, which was closed due to a lack of power, Dowagiac elementary schools welcomed a new crop of kindergarteners Tuesday. At Justus Gage Elementary School, students spent their first hours as students getting to know their teacher and classmates, by playing with play dough and introducing themselves to each other.

“The first day for a kindergartener is all about making the students feel comfortable and safe,” said Kirstin Ausra, a kindergarten teacher at Justus Gage. “We want their families to know that we are going to take care of their babies and that they feel comfortable leaving them with us. And my biggest thing is teaching the students how to feel safe at school and know that they can trust the adults here.”

Though many may not think about the educational benefits of kindergarten, Ausra said it is an important kickstart to a child’s education, and can give them a foundation to become the people that they want to be when they grow up.

“People always talk about how they got their dream jobs by going to college or high school, but that really starts here,” Ausra said.

The Dowagiac Daily News talked to five Justus Gage Elementary students about what being a kindergartener means to them and how they feel about entering school for the first time.