First Day of School

After seven years of homeschooling, Tennie, Adele and Ceci had their first day of SCHOOL yesterday.  

There was a LOT of nervousness about making friends, catching up where they're behind, sitting through an entire day of school without the flexibility of homeschool, etc.  Geoff asked them to show how they were feeling as we headed off and their expressions pretty much tell the truth...

Ceci - truly scared out of her wits.  This kid has never been to school.  Ever.  She didn't know what to expect and couldn't understand how she would make friends before recess and lunch.  She was nervous everyone would think she wasn't smart when they heard her read.  She was afraid she was going to get hungry and not be able to get a snack.  All understandable being 10-years-old and going to school for the first time.

Tennie - excited but nervous.  Excited because she has been wanting to make this transition for a couple years and is ready for more social and academic rigor; nervous because she knows her academic holes and the effort required to make them up.  Overall, she is confident this is the right move for her.  First time in school since 2nd grade.

Adele - feeling, at last, that she has something to do and somewhere to go everyday.  No nervousness about making friends, where she is academically or jumping in.  Her eagerness for this new adventure was palpable.  And, her clenched fist shows that butterflies are a part of any new unknown. First time to school since kindergarten.

Geoff and I took them to school and gave final hugs before seeing them to class.  We both also picked them up, anxious to hear their observations and experiences.  

These first two weeks for Tennie and Adele is a leadership intensive (in-depth study), in addition to academic and personality assessments, assemblies and getting to know their crew (a group they meet with every beginning and end-of-day throughout the year to set and review goals). Their after-school comments:

Tennie - pretty boring.  Wished it was more engaging and interesting.  Excited to go back.

Adele - pretty boring.  Sat in the same place all day.  Read some things.  Had an assembly where they talked about helping a school in the Dominican Republic.  She found the presenting teacher and asked how she could get involved.  This is her passion.  Ate lunch with a girl in her crew.  If it continues like this she might rather homeschool (except for that D.R. project...)

Ceci's 5th grade jumped right in to normal routines.  She has a group of girls who want to be her friend.  She was surrounded by friends at recess and lunch.  She did a spelling assessment but didn't feel stressed at all because the teacher said it was just to see where they were. She was relieved that other kids at her table didn't know how to spell, either. She wishes she were starting in 3rd grade so she had a few more years in the upper elementary.  Everything is so much fun.  Can't wait to go back.

Good things ahead.  This school is a great fit for all three, and we're excited for all of the possibilities available to them.

Back-to-School Night in the Atrium (Monday night)