Even with a new outfit and a backpack featuring your favorite cartoon character, the first day of kindergarten is pretty intimidating.

A towering yellow school bus stops at your driveway, the door opens as dozens of eyes look out at you, and then your parents actually expect you to get on by yourself? Not a chance.

Center School takes the edge off that first day by giving parents or grandparents the option to ride the bus with their kindergarteners. After dropping off the older kids, the buses had special routes to pick up the kids and their parents on Tuesday morning.

When they get to the school, the parents drop the kids off in their classrooms so they can get acquainted with their teachers and peers. Meanwhile Principal Rose Bowman gives parents a one-hour orientation. Then the kids and parents hop back on the bus and go home, hopefully ready for a full day of school on Wednesday.

Bowman said the ride-alongs started with her predecessor in the early '90s. As a former kindergarten teacher, she saw how helpful the abbreviated first day was for the children.

“We found that the transition was much smoother if the children came the first day with their parents, and they felt safe riding on the bus,” said Bowman. “This is a very big day in their life, their first day in public school. It’s just been a process that I feel truly supports the children.”

Bus driver Christine Smirnov loves the special kindergarten bus route.

“Sometimes the first day of school can be really traumatic for children, especially if they don’t have a sibling on the bus,” said the 15-year veteran. “Being on the bus the first time with a parent is very comforting. It takes a little bit of the fear out it.”

Peter Brezezinski rode the bus on Tuesday with his son, Scottie. This is the Brezezinskis’ second year to send a child off to kindergarten, so Scottie’s older sister helped prep him for his first day. Still, he was a little timid.

“Are you nervous?” Peter asked.

With his eyes glued to the window, Scottie responded with a little nod.

In the back of the bus, Landon Maher was anything but apprehensive for his first day at school, though his mom, Tracey, did say he had some nerves on Monday. No doubt it helped to have his mom and dad, Ed, on the bus.

“It’s a big change. He’s always been with us. Now, he’s got nobody,” said Ed.

Landon wasn’t sure what to expect from school, but seemed confident it would be fun.

“He went straight to the back to be a big kid today,” said Tracey.

She acknowledged that sending her youngest off to school was bittersweet.

But as Landon shot off the bus, he wasn’t thinking about Day 2.

“This is the best day ever!” he said.

And if the kids are anxious to board the bus without parents, Smirnov is ready.

“They sit in the front so I can talk to them and make them feel welcome, calm,” she said. “I try to keep a good rapport with my students.”