Earlier this week, while riding my bike home from work, something on Jefferson Elementary's electronic reader board caught my eye.

It was a message saying class lists would be posted in a front window at 4 p.m. Friday. I made a plan to be there.

When I arrived at the South Hill school not long ago, a few minutes before 4, it was clear that the lists had already gone up. Several women and a handful of children clustered around the white sheets in a window. More than one took pictures of the lists with their phones.

One girl squealed and jumped with delight. Apparently her best friend would be in her class.

Trying to look like a grandfather and not a pedophile, I approached the window and started writing down names in my reporter's notebook. But I had hardly begun when I realized my presence was blocking the view of the small crowd gathering behind me. And really, this was their day. Not mine.

So I got out of the way. My space was filled like sand in an hour glass.

My mission, of course, had been to record some of the kids' names that reflect the era since John and Mary went out the window. I didn't get far.

But I can report that among the first graders at Jefferson this fall will be Wyatt, Angel, Nisah, Izabella, Gracyn, Shylah, Adalyn and Malacai.

We're all rooting for you, kids. Have a great year. 

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