First Day: Kindergarten in KC Documenting that exciting first day of school in the metro

Every year with the start of school, something huge happens for the kids in our communities: They start school, many of them for the first time. With funding issues, budget cuts, provisional accreditation, and superintendent changes in the news, sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of that big thing right in our midst: the wondrous, exhilarating, stressful and joyful first day.

For photographer Lara Shipley, the challenge of capturing those moments was irresistible. Here’s an essay she built around her experiences attending the “First Day” at several Kansas City-area schools. Thanks to the schools, teachers and students that let us document these moments.

Joshua Williams says goodbye to his mom, Cristi Williams, while settling in to Michelle Hill's Spanish language emphasis kindergarten class at Foreign Language Academy. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Joshua Williams says goodbye to his mom, Cristi Williams, while settling in to Michelle Hill's Spanish language emphasis kindergarten class at Foreign Language Academy. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Joshua Williams says goodbye to his mom, Cristi Williams, while settling in to Michelle Hill's Spanish language emphasis kindergarten class at Foreign Language Academy. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Xi Wang gets to know her student Bryson Washington on the first day of school in the Chinese language emphasis kindergarten class at Foreign Language Academy. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Xi Wang gets to know her student Bryson Washington on the first day of school in the Chinese language emphasis kindergarten class at Foreign Language Academy. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Xi Wang gets to know her student Bryson Washington on the first day of school in the Chinese language emphasis kindergarten class at Foreign Language Academy. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Kindergarten students at Frontier School of Innovation play a version of dodge ball in Johny Brown's physical education class. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Kindergarten students at Frontier School of Innovation play a version of dodge ball in Johny Brown's physical education class. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Kindergarten students at Frontier School of Innovation play a version of dodge ball in Johny Brown's physical education class. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Kindergarten students at Frontier School of Innovation make paper crowns in art class taught by J. Curteman. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Kindergarten students at Frontier School of Innovation make paper crowns in art class taught by J. Curteman. (Photo: Lara Shipley)

Kindergarten students at Frontier School of Innovation make paper crowns in art class taught by J. Curteman. (Photo: Lara Shipley)