OLATHE, Kan. — Dozens of first-graders from Havencroft Elementary School in Olathe started out the week by making an appearance in a Johnson County courtroom.
Fortunately, they weren’t in trouble.
Instead, they were there to celebrate a classmate's adoption.
"Welcome to the very best hearing I get to have in this courtroom ...," Johnson County District Court Judge Kathleen Sloan said. "There is nothing better than an adoption, because you all came to the courthouse happy and I get to let you leave happier."
The family of Tyler Jones, a 6-year-old student at Havencroft, rented a bus to pick up his classmates, because he wanted them to be there for the moment he got adopted.
"He has been saying those words, 'Can you be my forever family?' He's been saying that for two-and-a-half years," Tyler's adoptive mom, Laura Jones, said.
Tyler has been in foster care for years.
Last week, Laura Jones got word that she could adopt Tyler, so the family asked the first-grader if he wanted to be part of the family by holding up signs saying "Can we be your forever family?"
Obviously, his answer was yes.
That's how dozens of Havencroft students wound up piling into a bus and heading to court for the first time.
Sloan let each student pick out a stuffed animal after the ceremony, completing a day Tyler will never forget.
"I don't know what life would be like without Tyler in our family," Laura Jones said. "He's just another piece of the puzzle of the Jones family."
Tyler joins a large family of adopted boys.
The Joneses have adopted six boys during the past 20 years and took in an 18-year-old a few years ago.
In total, seven boys call Laura mom.
Sloan said bringing classes to adoption ceremonies is becoming popular. She had another class on hand for an adoption last week as well.
