More archived photos from 2005
The Schultüte or Zuckertüte is a German tradition in which, on the first day of school, schoolchildren are given colorful paper cones stuffed with gifts. Some gifts relate to the upcoming school year, such as pens, pencils, and pencil cases; other items in the cone are sweet confections and candies (zucker means "sugar") and favorite snack items. The idea is to do something a little special for the child, to sweeten the transition from the carefree days of summer to the rigor of school. In our family, we started this tradition when our firstborn entered Kindergarten, and continued it right through high school. It wasn't until recently that we realized these archived photos are probably our most consistent annual photos of our kids through the years, all taken at about the same time, doing the same thing, and in roughly the same place. We begin in 2005 ...
09-06-2005: Roy's very first Schultüte for his first day at Kindergarten! Here's Roy receiving his
Schultüte with Leo looking on, Roy about to walk with John to Gage Elementary (the Schultüte stays home), and Roy at his desk in
Mrs. Youngman's classroom looking slightly amused at all this first-day hoopla.
More archived photos from 2005
09-05-2006: Roy goes back to school. Here's Roy with his Schultüte, new backpack, and new running
shoes, ready for first grade at Gage Elementary! Then, here he is in his classroom. It's a bungalow classroom with only two
slivers for windows, hence the oddly dim colors.
More archived photos from 2006
9-04-2007: Two kids in school! First you see the boys with their Schultüten
packed with goodies. Next, there they are, backpacks on and ready to walk to
school. Leo is especially excited as this is his first day at Gage Elementary.
The third photo shows Leo waiting for the bell to ring in the Kindergarten play
area (that’s his backpack hanging on the hook), and the fourth shows him
sitting in the morning circle. The last photo shows Roy taking a place in the
second grade morning circle.
More archived photos from 2007
09-02-2008: 3rd and 1st grade, Gage Elementary. Here are the boys, eager to set off with
their new backpacks and their Schultüten filled with new supplies and a few surprises.
More archived photos from 2008
9-08-09: 4th and 2nd grade at Gage Elementary. Here are Roy and Leo with their Schultüten, about to
walk to school, and Leo by his classroom, waiting to go in.
More archived photos from 2009
09-07-2010: A new school for Leo. Here are the boys, ready to go with their Schultüten. Roy is in
5th grade, his last year at Gage Elementary. Leo started 3rd grade attending a different school, Hearst Elementary in Del Cerro, but was right
at home with the Running Club!
More archived photos from 2010
09-06-2011: 6th and 4th grade. First up are Roy and Leo with
their Schultueten! Roy met up with his buddy Alex for the walk to Pershing Middle School for
the first time. Note the rain! Leo, meanwhile, had carefully cultivated his look, right down to the hat.
Here he is in his new fourth-grade classroom at Hearst Elementary.
More archived photos from 2011
09-04-2012: 7th and 5th grade.
Here are Roy and Leo in the front yard with their Schultüten filled with school supplies and treats.
More archived photos from 2012
09-03-2013: Two middle schoolers!
Roy is in 8th grade at Pershing Middle School, and Leo is in 6th grade entering Lewis Middle School. Yes,they attended
different middle schools. Roy could walk to Pershing, the neighborhood school, but we drove Leo to Lewis, in Allied Gardens.
More archived photos from 2013
09-02-2014: 7th and 9th grade.
Here are Leo, entering 7th grade at Lewis Middle School, and Roy, entering 9th grade and Patrick Henry High School,
with their modest Schultüten.
More archived photos from 2014
09-08-2015: 8th and 10th grade.
Here are Roy and Leo with their back-to-school Schultüten, in the early morning before heading out.
More archived Photos from 2015
08-29-2016: Two high-schoolers!
Roy and Leo attend the same school (Patrick Henry) for the first time since Gage Elementary, seven years ago.
Here they are with their Schultüten and a quick snapshot out the windshield of them walking to school together on a
slightly foggy morning.
More archived photos from 2016
08-28-2017: Roy's last Schultüte.
When we started this, Roy had two years of Schultüte without Leo. Next year, Leo will get two years of Schultüte
without Roy. Here Roy is a senior and Leo is a sophomore at Patrick Henry High School.
More archived photos from 2017
08-27-2018: And then there was one.
With Roy off to college, Leo started his junior year at Patrick Henry High School.
More archived photos from 2018
08-26-2019: Our last Schultüte.
Wow, this marks the end of a family tradition spanning our kids' entire school lives from Kindergarten to 12th grade! Here's the last
Schultüte photo: Leo started his senior year in high school. Unlike the others, this photo was taken in the back yard.
One more annual photo archive: Archived photos from 2004
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