My great-niece Alannah is starting all-day kindergarten next week. She is 5. When I heard that she was going to be in school from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., it sounded like such a long day for such a little girl. It seems to start so early – learning to get up and get out there. My niece and her husband assured me that there would be no heavy lifting involved and that she would get a nap and lunch during that time.

This week we are featuring a special Back to School section in the Garner News. Lots of kids are in year-round schools and have been in class all summer. In that sense, it is almost always back to school season for some. Those on the traditional schedule get back to school soon. Once July is over, the momentum builds as everyone returns from vacation and gets back to school, college, work, and anywhere else that took a summer break. This year we are featuring information on eating a healthy school lunch and having your school supplies ready. The No Tax weekend that comes in early August every year in North Carolina is a good time to stock up on school supplies and clothes.

One of my favorite school memories was getting new shoes every September. It’s the beginning of a new season. All the fall clothes are in the stores. I don’t know how anyone else feels, but it is hard to contemplate corduroy when the weather is 95 degrees and 200 percent humidity. Fall doesn’t really start for several more weeks, but everyone is thinking about it.

There are those like Alannah who are new at school. But even those who are new are expected to know something when they show up the first day. They need to know their name, where they live – they even need to know the alphabet and I’m sure plenty more. I don’t remember how much I knew on my first day at school but somehow it all worked out and I eventually made it through 12 grades and graduation.

And there are those like our student interns Jake Filip who is not new to school and share their opinions in today’s edition about what their peers should consider as they begin a new school year. I am especially excited to hear from our high school students. They are learning more than just what is required on end of the year exams. They are learning what is going to be required of them once they graduate. They are learning how to get along with all kinds of people.

I once heard that the most important lesson we learn at school isn’t reading or writing, it is getting along with those who are different from ourselves.

When better to start that learning process than in Preschool and Kindergarten? We have to learn to share our toys, let others take a turn and remember to say please and thank you. Those lessons don’t lose their importance as we grow older. We might have to learn how to refine them, but the basic lessons serve us all of our lives.

Take some time to read through the Back to School section today. Even if you don’t have kids in school, it will take you down Memory Lane and you can make others listen as you say, “when I was a kid…” and then head to the store on No Tax weekend and buy yourself some new shoes.