Each year, Dawson County's youngest students tag along with their parents to begin the next 13 years of their lives.

Dawson County held its annual Kindergarten Roundup on April 17.

This year, organizers tried something new.

"We changed it up a bit this year," said Riverview Elementary Records Clerk Patricia Yaegle. "We put all of the kids in one central location to speed up the registration and to gather them for testing."

Yaegle said the plan seemed to have worked.

The event gathers soon-to-be kindergarteners from across the county for testing, assessment and placement.

"This is always one of the most exciting times, getting students ready for school," said Riverview Elementary Principal Julia Mashburn. "We want this to be a positive experience that sets the tone for their education experience."

Mashburn said that this point of a child's school career is one of the most important.

"Starting today, this kindergarten experience must be positive," she said. "That builds a picture for the next 13 years of their life, until they decide what they want to do after high school."

But for rising kindergarteners like Kenzi Cook, she just wants to focus on the here and now.

"I'm so excited!" she said. "I'm really looking forward to learning to count."

The new generation of learners will begin classes Aug. 7 for the 2015-16 school year.