Another New Adventure

Parker Slater, 5, had a family entourage seeing him off for his first day of school. “I remember the day you were born,” said his mother, Janie. “And now you’re off on another new adventure.”

Janie Slater was graduated from Gonzaga Prep 20 years ago. After spending time in California’s Napa Valley, she and husband Keith moved their four young sons to Spokane.

“We came back for the lifestyle,” said Janie. “We just missed the mountains and the lakes and all of the things Spokane has to offer.”

So Parker got to start kindergarten in his mom’s hometown. Brothers Conner, 4, Jack, 2, and Brennan, 4 months, accompanied Parker and his parents to Hutton Elementary. Parker introduced his family to his teacher, Lou Courchaine, endured a series of goodbye kisses, and launched his academic career.

A teacher since 1982, this is the first year since then that Janie Slater has forgone her September rites of setting up bulliton boards and meeting new students.

“It’s weird to be on the other side of the fence,” she said, “to be dropping them off and walking away.”

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