first day of school

Harriet’s First Day of School – 4s Preschool

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This was the last first day of preschool for our family.  What a sweet time this has been.  We loved the school Alma attended for three years, and where Harriet has been the last two years.  Unfortunately, things changed and we felt the need to move Harriet to a new school for her last year.

Luckily we found a really sweet place just down the road from both our house and Alma’s elementary school.  While it makes me really sad that they won’t be in the same place, it’s comforting to me that they’re just a block or two apart.  Also, Alma didn’t have school today (they broke the kindergarten classes into two groups for the firsts and Alma only had to go yesterday), so it was extra special that she got to come to drop-off with us.

Alma has been talking all morning about how she misses Harriet.  She even suggested that we just go pick her up two hours early.  It makes me so excited for next year when they’ll have lunch and recess together at the elementary school.

Harriet was so excited to be at her new school.  She got right to work tracing her name (that’s how they check in in the morning.  I love that idea!), then exploring all the things she could play with.

I’m so proud of how flexible she is these days.  I could have expected her to have a problem with the new school, new teachers, new friends, but she just rolled with it like the strong, brave girl she is.  I’m so excited to see what this year of school will bring to our lovely little Harriet.

Alma’s First Day – Kindergarten

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Remember when Alma was born?   Or her first day of preschool?  Yesterday, right?  Well, here’s our little baby all ready for kindergarten.

How did this happen?  I mean, I totally get it.  She’s 5 1/2.  She’s becoming such a big kid.  She is generous and kind.  She’s excited to learn how to read and how to do math.  She loves making new friends more than anything.  She’s totally ready for kindergarten.

Harriet, on the other hand, isn’t quite ready for Alma to be in kindergarten.  She’s already asked when Alma’s coming home – twenty times or so.  They have a special bond, for sure.  I’m so excited for next year, when Harriet is in elementary school with Alma.

This morning we all walked Alma down to her bus stop.  We had to wait for a while, but Alma never seemed nervous or worried.  She did complain about her backpack being uncomfortable.  Guess we should break it in a little bit.

Alma hopped right on the bus without a look back (until her bus driver told her to turn around for a photo).  She is such a courageous, smart, friendly, and fun girl.

Harriet and I ended up driving to the school to meet her.  I wanted to make sure it all made sense to her, and she asked if we could meet her there.  Boy am I glad we did.  We went to the cafeteria to get breakfast, and it was a madhouse.  We ran into our friend, Kenton, who’s a 1st grader, but new to the school, and who looked a bit lost.  We all headed to the (long) breakfast line and got some food.  The cafeteria was loud and crowded, but some of Alma’s fun 5th grade friends came to make sure she was doing okay.

I got Alma connected with her teacher, and on her way to music class, then we headed out.

Now I’m just counting the hours and minutes until her bus drops her off.  I’m just glad it’s an early release day so she’ll be home an hour earlier.  I can’t wait to hear all about her day and who she played with and if they had outdoor recess and if she liked the lunch I packed her and and and everything everything everything!

Our Third First Day of School

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Today was different than other first days.  The girls were excited.  Our time at home was relaxed and slow.  We got out of the house a few minutes later than we’d wanted.  We showed up to a very full parking lot.  We got some rushed photos near the school sign.  We went into Alma’s classroom, where the circle time had already started.  I told her to go find her name on the floor without a hug or a kiss or anything.  She sat by her teacher and got to be the first calendar helper.  We waved and exchanged some excited, nervous smiles.  We took a grumpy Harriet out to the playground, where her class begins their day.  We dropped off bike helmets and extra clothes.  We showed Harriet how she can still look in Alma’s window to wave to her.  Then we left.  On our way down the hallway, we could see Harriet, peeking in at Alma, no longer grumpy.  We walked back to campus together.  Now I am sitting at a table in near silence, enjoying the solitude, looking forward to nine whole months of time that I know the kids are being enriched, socialized, educated, and loved.  And looking forward to nine whole months of time that I spend by myself, thinking, planning, writing, reading, walking, or with teenagers, working, teaching, talking, learning.  Man do I love the first day of school.