Jocelyn was busy working on the “elephant ship” – an illustration of elephants sitting on a boat that required students at the table to match corresponding color blocks to the picture in order to make the picture become three-dimensional.

Across from her, three other young ladies were also hard at work matching blocks to their own photos. They seemed right at home working at their table and putting their skills to use, almost as though they have been at school all morning.

However, they hadn’t.

Today was the school division’s Kindergarten Registration Event. More than a thousand families took part in the day in order to get their child enrolled for the upcoming school year. While mom and dad were filling out the paperwork, the future kindergartners got to go on an adventure – taking tours of the school, visiting the library and some even got to take their first ride on the bus.

At Providence Elementary, Jocelyn and her new friends got to visit a kindergarten classroom, where they could work and play for a little while. Yet, when thinking about her future as a kindergartner, Jocelyn shared she was excited about one thing in particular.

“Snacks,” she said.

It was a sentiment shared by many of the four and five year olds coming to the schools today.

Over at Diamond Springs Elementary School, Zyaire was most excited about “the cafeteria…and cheese pizza.”

His mother added, “He loves pizza.”

Zyaire’s future classmate at Diamond Springs, Saniyah, pointed out that coming to school would mean seeing some of her favorite people.

“I’m excited to see my friends,” she said.

It’s a sentiment Saniyah’s mom, Nicole Melvin, can hardly believe.

“I knew this day was going to come. I wasn’t expecting it so soon,” Melvin said. “My baby is growing up. She does really well with other kids. Everyone she sees is her friend. I think she’ll do great.”

For Luxford Kindergarten Teacher Robin Harrison, today’s even is a great way to share the fun of school with up and coming kindergartners.

“It’s an introduction to the school and the community because we are building a relationship together and this is the first step,” Harrison said. “It’s really an exciting time for the students as well as the teachers. Every year is a new year. Their faces are so bright and enthusiastic. It’s just the beginning of their journey. It’s a fun time for the whole school and community.”

Each of the division’s 56 elementary schools (with the exception of Williams Elementary, which only has fourth- and fifth-graders) took part in the day’s event. And, each school put its own unique take on the day.

At Indian Lakes Elementary School, music teacher Ella Williams led the school’s current kindergartners in a musical number, which was performed in front of all the morning’s guests. The big finale? A number that had the audience clap, slap their legs and count along with the performers.

“Listen along for where you can join with us,” Williams told the crowd.

Other schools such as Kempsville Elementary and Thoroughgood Elementary had fifth-graders serve as buddies for the rising kindergartners. They would usher them to the next stop of the tour, answer their questions and even help calm any anxieties about being away from mom or dad.

“I loved hanging out with the little ones,” said Amy, a fifth-grade helper at Thoroughgood. “They are so cute and adorable. I actually felt like a teacher to them.”

Parents can still enroll their students for school at any time before the school year begins. For more information about how to enroll, parents can visit vbschools.com/kindergarten. For more photos from today’s event, visit the VBSchools Facebook page.