Jarrett Hayama poured himself a bowl of frosted corn flakes cereal and milk while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

As he crunched away at the breakfast table yesterday, Jarrett, 11, thought about the day that lay ahead — his first day in the sixth grade at Kaimuki Middle School.

"I'm kinda nervous," Jarrett said between chews, as he prepared to join about 180,000 public school students starting school in Hawai'i through next week.

The first day of school is typically a nerve-wracking experience for students, whether they're a kindergartner or a high-school senior, said Charmaine Bissen, a Maui district school psychologist for the state Department of Education.

"It's a new environment with new students, new teachers and a new routine," Bissen said. " ... There isn't that certainty of what will happen next."

Yesterday marked an additional milestone for Jarrett because it was his first day in middle school. Moving from elementary to middle school (which starts with sixth grade) or intermediate school (which starts with seventh grade) is a major transition period for students, Bissen said.

"They're not quite a teenager and they're not a child anymore, so they're in between," Bissen said. "It's a time of rapid changes with the body, emotions, attitudes and values, intellect, relationships with parents and peers, freedom and responsibility."

It helps with the transition to middle or intermediate school when parents discuss what to expect in advance, among other things, experts say.

"The main thing with the kids is preparing them for the changes," said Rosie Zglinski, 52, whose son, Michael, starts seventh grade at Kailua Intermediate today. "The more information we give them, the better."

To help ease Jarrett into middle school, his mother, Terry Oshiro, enrolled him in summer school at Kaimuki Middle to help him get used to the campus and the teachers ahead of time.

"I think he'll do good," said Oshiro, 43, while watching Jarrett finish his cereal.

Energized by his sugary breakfast, Jarrett kicked around a soccer ball in his living room as he and his two younger brothers waited to leave for school.

"Come on, guys, get ready," Oshiro called from another room.

"I am ready!" Jarrett said with a big smile.

FAMILIAR FACES

Lugging around a backpack nearly half his size and a plastic bag of paper towels, Jarrett slowly made his way toward his homeroom class through scores of giddy children.

Amid the crowds, he spotted a familiar face.

"What's your homeroom number?" Jarrett's friend asked.

"J-206," Jarrett replied, looking at his class schedule.

"Yes!" exclaimed his friend, realizing he would be right next door.

Jarrett looked forward to hanging out with his friends again, he said. Seeing them helped calm his first-day jitters.

Parents can do their part to ease their children's nerves by talking to them openly about what to expect — and listening to their concerns — said Sid Rosen, chief executive officer of Adult Friends for Youth, a private counseling service.

"Listen to what your child has to say and take what they have to say seriously, even if you feel it's frivolous," Rosen said. "It's important to the child."

Each year, Adult Friends for Youth presents statewide student transition conventions for students entering middle or intermediate school. The event is meant to help the children prepare for the big move.

Questions students ask include, "Will I have too much homework?" and "Will the older students pick on me?" Rosen said.

Be honest with your children, said Sue Wright-Maximo, an 'Ewa Beach mother of three.

"Tell them it's not going to be easy and it's a big step from elementary," said Wright-Maximo, 32. "Just be supportive and be very involved."

Wright-Maximo's son, Brett, who starts seventh grade today at 'Ilima Intermediate in 'Ewa Beach, said he appreciates his parents' open advice.

"My dad has prepared me," said Brett, 12. "He told me to make the right decisions in middle school, to keep my grades up and to stay away from bad people."

Being straightforward helps parents emphasize to their children the importance of being more responsible and organized, said Keri Medeiros of Kailua. Her son, Brennen, starts seventh grade today at Kailua Intermediate.

"We've been just talking to him a lot about what to expect," said Medeiros, 36. "We've explained to him that it's a lot harder from here on out and it's not as easy as what grade school is like."

MORE COMFORTABLE

Throughout the school day, Jarrett grew more comfortable with his new environment. He jumped at the chance to volunteer for a three-legged relay race at a schoolwide welcome assembly, and at recess he joined a soccer game with kids he didn't know.

Oshiro had hoped to ease Jarrett into Kaimuki Middle by enrolling him in summer school, and it seemed to work. Jarrett knew his way around campus and knew some of the sixth-grade teachers.

Parents can make a transition in schools easier for their kids by getting to know their teachers and counselors, making sure they understand their class schedules, and touring the campus with them before the first day, Bissen said.

Being able to find their way around school is a big concern for middle schoolers, who have to adjust to having multiple classes and have only about five minutes to get from one classroom to another.

"I'm worried about getting lost," Ethan Paguirigan, 12, said a few days ago. Ethan starts seventh grade at Kailua Intermediate today.

Ethan's mother, Tencha, made sure to address his concern.

"When we went to school to register (him) and to pick up his schedule and uniform, we walked around the school," said Tencha Paguirigan, 40.

While most middle and intermediate school students have worries, there are also many things they're excited about.

"I'm looking forward to the teachers because at my orientation, I met some of them and they seemed really nice," said Michael, Rosie Zglinski's son and a Kailua seventh-grader. "I'm also looking forward to meeting new people."

After school, Jarrett recalled the day's highlights, including the air-conditioned band room, a teacher who was "funny" and others who were friendly.

He summed up his milestone first day of middle school in three words:

"It was good."

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.