Kamal Sheets anxiously waited in the driveway outside his family's Ellicott City home, his shoulders hunched, his brand new army-fatigue colored backpack and matching lunch bag in tow.

"When is (it) gonna come?" the 5-year-old asked, worrying about the bus. "What took (it) so long?" He peered down the street at the parked school bus that was to drive him to his very first day of kindergarten at Centennial Lane Elementary School on Aug. 25.

To distract her son, Nuriman Sheets suggested Kamal and his big brother, Daniyar, 7-- who was entering second grade at the school-- run around the family's minivan.

"We try to hype them up a little," Nuriman explained.

At 8:23 a.m., bus No. 631 turned on its flashing yellow and orange lights, and stopped in front of the Sheets' home.

After a big hug and kiss from mom, Kamal, Daniyar and their neighbor Jacob Singleton, boarded the bus with waves and shouts of "goodbye."

Better prepared?

Kamal was one of the 49,000 students in Howard County who began the school year this week, including an estimated 3,300 kindergarten students.

But Kamal was a little better prepared than most kindergartners for his momentous first day of school.

His parents made sure he had a good breakfast (pancakes), enough snacks in his lunch bag for the seven-hour school day and all of his school supplies.

More than that, the family had participated in a summer play group for incoming kindergartners organized by Centennial Lane parents.

"It's been a great resource for the parents," Julie Betler, an organizer of the group said during a play session two weeks ago at the playground of the Centennial Park West Area.

The group met on Sundays and Wednesdays, with each session lasting about an hour. The sessions started in mid-June, right after school ended, according to Nuriman Sheets.

"We are all really grateful," Sheets said of the play group. If nothing else, it might provide a familiar face for children to see on what could be a nerve-wracking first day, she said.

The play group also gives parents the chance to connect with and reassure each other, Betler said.

"I think (the parents) have as many anxieties as the children starting," Betler added.

First day 'procedural'

Parents at other schools in the area -- including Veterans, Triadelphia Ridge, Northfield and Manor Woods elementary schools-- have also formed play groups, according to Betler.

In school his first day, Kamal listened attentively, despite the occasional yawn, as teacher Debi Howell gave directions to her new students.

"It's so procedural," Howell, who has been a teacher for 26 years, explained of the first day as she instructed her students on how to wash their hands and use the bathroom properly.

Not every student was as focused as Kamal on their first day.

"I wanna go home," one student said.

"I haven't learned anything," another said.

Howell also introduced her students to their cafeteria and the playground.

Kamal was already familiar with the latter.

"I've been on the playground 20 times," Kamal commented as he walked there with his classmates.

Later, as the students headed inside, Kamal was excited about his first-ever snack time.

"I can't believe my mom packed two treats," he said.

Another highlight of Kamal's day was getting a glimpse of his brother walking out of the cafeteria as his class lined up outside to go in.

"Daniyar!" he shouted as he waved enthusiastically.

Daniyar smiled back.

'Welcome home'

When they arrived home after school, Kamal, Daniyar and Jacob stepped off the school bus to a warm welcome from their mothers and younger siblings.

Written in chalk on the Sheets' driveway were the words, "Welcome Home Kamal, Daniyar and Jacob."

After proclaiming that he had a "really good" first day of school, Kamal rushed into his house for a snack and a drink, where his mom questioned him about his day.

"What are the three best things about kindergarten?" she asked.

"I have lunch and a snack; I get to play outside two times; (and) the teacher opens new places (classroom sites for reading, painting and other activities) we can play in every day," he said.

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