Well, we’re into our sixth week of school, and I’m not sure we’re adjusted yet. James is attending afternoon kindergarten, four days a week, which is working out great. He’s still adjusting to the routine and being tired in the afternoons, and I’m still getting used to all the time in the van plus the carpool route on campus. Crazy.
The first day of school was just a short time and parents were invited as well. Eighteen students plus 1-2 parents per child made for a tight classroom! Parents were given a list of instructions to finish while the students worked on a few crafts. So, Kenny and I got busy putting away all of James’s supplies while he drew a picture and wrote his name. James’s teacher is wonderful and is quite possibly the most calm person I’ve ever met. I guess with 18 kindergartners you have to be.
The next day was more of an official first day of school since we dropped James off and he stayed the entire afternoon. We took all of the typical ‘first day of school’ photos. Such a cute kindergartner, don’t you think?
And, we even hung James’s first kindergarten papers from the mantel that week. We celebrate everything in our house. I think we had ice cream cones after the first day of school, and we’re still hanging papers from the mantel. I can’t help myself.
Kindergarten is proving to be lots of fun for James and he’s learning so much. While he doesn’t have regular homework each night (our school suggests the students play and enjoy family time after school at this age), we are working now and again on writing letters and numbers. And of course, we’re still reading quite a bit.
James would say his favorite part of the day is recess. Of course. I happen to know he’s also enjoying show and tell each week in addition to all of the specials: music, PE, library, and art. He’s quickly learning the names of his classmates, the Pledge of Allegiance, and many other songs and rhymes. Last week he sang a song listing all of the continents. How fun. It’s so much easier absorbing information if you set it to music!
Last Thursday was Grandparent’s Day and we were thrilled that Mary Jo could join James for the day. What a fun, special time they had.
Anna is doing okay while James is gone to school, mainly because her day is the same at that time. After dropping him off, we come home for rest time, then have time for a snack and some other things before hopping in the van again. We’re listening to lots of music in the car, which she loves, and counting cement mixer trucks on our drive. That girl can find at least one cement truck EVERY time we’re in the van! It’s really amazing. She’s already asking when she gets to go to school. She knows when she’s five she can go and says she already wants a princess backpack.
As the weeks go on, I’m sure we’ll settle into more of a school routine and find our groove. This is new territory for all of us. I’ve got to remember that and allow myself some grace when I feel a little crazy. James and I both are introverts and do not easily adapt to change, I’m discovering. We’re creatures of habit, we like our routine, and when something new is added, it takes us awhile to adjust. So, now that we’ve realized that, we’re giving ourselves some time to settle in.
Overall, this is a great milestone in our family and we’re so happy for James. After months of researching schools and trying to hear where God wanted us to be, we’re thankful for our school and couldn’t be happier.