BAY MINETTE, Ala.  — Kindergarten sign-up was held at North Baldwin County elementary schools on Tuesday. Among them was Stapleton Elementary, which had four new registrations and 17 signed up through Pre-K.

“It’s a little smaller class this year,” said Stapleton School Registrar Karen Branum, explaining that the size could pose an advantage. “I think that these students will be a lot more ready because they’ve been through Pre-K. Their reading skills are much better, and they’re reading at a higher level. There are a lot of advantages because they’re here all day and they’ve learned the procedures and how they should behave.”

During registration, Bay Minette Elementary School Assistant Principal Averette Hale talked to Pre-K Student Kaemon Hadley during registration to display the aid of attending Pre-K.

“Do you know where you eat breakfast?” she asked the 5-year-old.

“We eat at the cafeteria,” he replied.

Hale believes that children are more comfortable because a school atmosphere is familiar to them.

“They’ve already gotten used to the routine and the campus,” she said in an interview during registration.

But comfort is not a focus for Hadley, as he look forward to making friends in the upcoming schoolyear.

“I’m looking for someone that can be nice,” he said. “Brandon is so nice. He lives on the street across by the gas station. I’m excited (about starting Kindergarten).”

However, some parents said they didn’t share Hadley’s anticipation. Instead, their emotions were mixed.

“It’s happy, and it’s sad at the same time because she’s our baby,” said parent Janet Godwin, who was registering her 5-year-old daughter, Brooke. “She’s excited, and we’re excited.”