The First School Bell

Ilya woke up early. It was his first day of school, and he was so excited that he’d hardly slept. Putting on his brand-new school uniform and swinging his backpack over his shoulder, he felt a mix of excitement and a little bit of nervousness. Noticing his anxiety, his mom said, "Don't worry, Ilyusha, you're going to love it!" Ilya nodded, though he was still unsure.

When they arrived at the school, Ilya saw many other kids – all with their parents and looking a bit unsure as well. Some held flowers, others nervously adjusted their backpacks, and nearby, a teacher stood smiling and welcoming the new students. "Hello, first graders! Welcome to our school!" said the teacher warmly, and Ilya immediately felt a bit calmer.

Ilya stood next to his mom as the teacher explained how the first day would go. She mentioned that they’d get to know each other, take a tour of the school, and find out where everything was. Ilya caught the eye of a boy standing next to him who also seemed excited yet slightly anxious.

Soon, the children headed to their classroom. The teacher led them down the hallway, explaining the different rooms. "Here is our math classroom, and over there is the music room, where we’ll learn to sing and play instruments," she explained. Ilya was beginning to feel intrigued by all the new things he would learn and do.

When they finally entered their classroom, the teacher invited each child to take a seat at a desk. Ilya found himself sitting next to the boy he’d exchanged glances with earlier. "My name’s Ilya. What’s yours?" he asked. "I’m Nikita," the boy replied with a smile. Just like that, Ilya had made his first school friend.

The teacher placed small gifts on each desk – bright pencils and notebooks. "This pencil will help you write down important thoughts and ideas, and the notebook will hold your dreams and achievements," she explained. Ilya happily took the gifts, feeling more and more like a real student.

Once everyone was seated, the teacher invited them to introduce themselves and share something about their interests. "You can tell us about something you enjoy or what you like to do," she suggested. Ilya shyly said that he liked building model airplanes, while Nikita shared that he had a dog he loved walking every morning.

After introductions, the teacher took them out to the schoolyard, where they could run and play. Ilya and Nikita started chasing each other, and soon a few other kids joined in. They laughed and played together, and Ilya’s nerves slowly melted away.

On their way back to the classroom, they passed by the school library, and the teacher showed them where the books were. "Here, you’ll be able to choose books to read at home or in class," she said. Ilya was amazed at how many exciting things awaited him at school.

After his first day of school, Ilya returned home full of stories and impressions. He told his mom everything that had happened: about his new friend Nikita, the fun they had in the schoolyard, and even the gift from his teacher. His mom smiled and hugged him. "See, Ilyusha, your first day went perfectly!" Ilya nodded, thinking that he would be happy to return to school tomorrow.

From that day on, Ilya began to realize that school wasn’t just about lessons and homework – it was a place where he could make real friends, learn new things, and have fun. He eagerly looked forward to each new day and to seeing his classmates again, ready for any new discoveries that lay ahead.