kindergarten parents and preschool slacker parents

Not really.  This afternoon was busy.  We took Bear to meet her kindergarten teacher today, and I have to say, I was pretty impressed.  She seemed friendly, organized, and experienced.  She listened when Bear asked her questions.  The classroom is welcoming, from the "tool boxes" where she'll keep her school supplies, to the assortment of posters, learning centers, and even a "think about it/time out" chair with a cute poem on it.  We met a mom and daughter who just moved here from out of state a week ago along with a few other parents and kids.  My only reservation is that as of now, there will be 24 students in her class, without a teacher's aid.  No wonder she said she'll take all the parental involvement she can get!!!

After meet the teacher at school, it was time for gymnastics.  Daddy was with us, and Bear showed off.  Daddy also monitored Buddy, who has a habit of trying to play on whatever equipment the girls are not using.
 Her gymnastics school is very small and non-competitive, and the instructor puts her heart and soul into these kids.  I am amazed at how Bear's flexibility and skills have begun to grow. 

So, about the slacking.  Buddy's "meet the teacher/open house" was scheduled for tonight.  But his teacher sent a postcard that noted that she would not actually be at open house, and I confirmed that when I called the school's director.  Daddy drove back into town from out of state, I had a meeting at the same time as the open house, so we decided to skip.  The kids and I toured the facility last spring when we registered him, and we will not get lost when school starts on Tuesday. 

she is so ready

Kindergarten registration and open house were this afternoon.  We toured the school, including a classroom and submitted our registration packet (minus the health record form because I don't have an up to date one- that'll be taken care of before August).

Bear is ready to start now.  She misses her friends from Pre-K in Georgia.  She picked a flower (weed) on the way in, and almost immediately found a girl to introduce herself to and give it to, telling the child her full name (first, middle last).  It was precious.

The school is BIG.  It's a Primary school, so it only has grades K-2, but it has 15 Kindergarten classes!  I had heard it was big, but did not realize HOW big until I learned that.  In spite of the size, I love 3 things about it already.  1) No big 5th grade bullies or giants accidentally running her down in the hall.  Now, I am sure there are a lot of helpful 5th graders, too, but yes, the limited age range sounds fine with me, especially with as many students as they have. 2) They DO rotate electives.  Music, Art, PE.... it seems that the arts are being cut from so many school systems, to hear that those things are in their curriculum is great.   3) Kindergarten is a shorter day.  They will get out at 1:00 pm.  That's how it was when I was a kid, and since Bear is not used to going every single day, plus it will have been several months since she went to school outside the home at all, well, that's fine with me.  Leaves more time if we ever settle on activities for her to take on outside of school.

I was reassured by the fact that 3 other kids we met were older 5's and one would already be 6 when they begin.  Unless I home schooled, it's not like I had the choice of when she would start due to her birthday, but  I also still didn't want her to be a lot older than a majority of the kids.  Of course, in a group that size, she is bound to have others her age, but I am a worrier, and that's just how it is. :)

I didn't take a picture of her at the school yet.  I figured I'll save that for the first day of school in August.

Let Pre-K begin!

Even though Bear has been asking when she would start school for at least a month, when it came time to going this morning, she had a harder time than I expected.  "I don't want to be away from you!" she exclaimed.  Those are words that can break this Mom's heart.  I tried telling her about the schedule she would have, "But I don't know those things."  "That's the point, you are going to learn, and you're going to make new friends, and have a lot of fun."  I took some pictures by our door before we headed out, since I did not know if I would have time to snap some in the drop-off area.  I love the progression in her expressions and poses:

Not feelin' this, Mom.

I'm smiling because I have to.  Sort of.

I might be sweet now.

Ok, I'm ready to have a fun day at Pre-K!

Now I'm just being sweet and sassy. :)

By the time she got to school, she was ready to go.  She even chose to let me just drop her off at the drop-off point versus walking her into the classroom.  I knew Buddy might want to stay if we went inside, so we opted for the big-girl plan.

One last hug from Mom

Heading in for her first day of Pre-Kindergarten!

As soon as I got back in the car, Buddy looked at her empty seat and asked for Sissy.  He's asked for her a couple of times since then,  but mostly seems to like trying to body slam me as I type this. :)
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Bear says she had a good day, but she doesn't want to tell me about it. (Is that a sign she's growing up, or what?!) They painted hand prints and she was chosen to be the line leader.  However, she was disappointed that she had to play with blocks and puzzles instead of ponies.  That's my girl.

Sister Bear's First Day of School

Tomorrow is Bear's 1st day of Pre K.  Her late October birthday means she can't go to Kindergarten in a public school until she is almost 6.  And my feeble attempts to try to establish an educational system in our home have resulted in sheer frustration for both of us.  I'm not saying I don't try to teach her things or will not keep trying.  That comes with parenthood.  (In case you doubted.) 

Tomorrow she starts Pre K part time, and both of us are excited.  We went to Open House in her classroom today.  She found her name on the wall chart, met her teachers and some of her classmates.  She can't wait to begin!

Finding her name on the wall

A hug from Ms. Julie