For any 5 or 6 year old, the seemingly simple task of walking into school can be daunting. And walking in without a parent can be even worse.

Eastern Elementary School made sure to calm those fears Monday morning as part of its Kiss and Go Day, in collaboration with senior athletes from Washington High School.

As the elementary students made their way to the classrooms, high school students decked out in their athletic uniforms greeted them as they were dropped off, cheered them on as they made the walk to class and gave them high-fives for encouragement.

Parents usually walk their child in for the first few weeks, but then the school encourages the children to walk in on their own, said Jennifer Walker, a teacher at Eastern Elementary School.

This is the second year the schools have participated in the Kiss and Go Day.

Jennifer Walker said the reason behind the event is to help teach students about social skills and make them more comfortable in the absence of a parent.

“Using that carpool line is a big step for a lot of them,” she said. “It gets very, very hectic, but we also want our kids to feel really proud of themselves.”

Last year helpers were football players and cheerleaders, but this year the school extended the invite to all senior athletes, Walker said.

She said students were stationed at the carpool lane and the bus drop-off to greet children as they walked into school, no matter how they got there. After greeting, the high school athletes were treated to breakfast, paid for by PotashCorp-Aurora.

“The kids really love it, big and small,” Walker said. “It’s just really cool, and you know, it may seem small to some of us, but our little kids look up to them.”

The elementary students were excited to get high-fives from the older students and were bragging the rest of the day about how many high-fives they had gotten, she said.

“It makes such a huge impression on the kids and that’s important,” Walker said, adding that it also reminds the older kids of their place as role models. “Washington High School and Eastern Elementary have a really great relationship.”

She said the schools are hoping to collaborate for another Kiss and Go event this winter after Christmas break.

“We’re very, very fortunate,” Walker said.