Education for Life

So even though Satchel and Jiro go to school year round (they attend Evergreen's camp during the summer), they were very excited to start school yesterday!

A very good sign.

Others have been blogging about locating school supplies and transitioning to the new rooms, but we haven't had to mess with any of that stuff this year. At Evergreen we pay a supply fee and Satchel and Jiro's classrooms stay the same for three year intervals, as is standard in Montessori. Jiro is doing his last year in the primary cycle and Satchel is in year two of the lower elementary cycle.

This doesn't mean there haven't been any changes though. Several of Jiro's best buddies have either moved upstairs (into the elementary) or left the school in favor of public education. (It's pretty normal for there to be a big drop off when kids get old enough for public school, but the recession hasn't helped matters.) Jiro is taking it in stride though. I think he's going to like being one of the big kids in his class and we're still in touch with his friends who have gone to new schools.

Satchel's classroom has changed in the sense that all of the upper elementary kids have graduated so everyone is in lower elementary this year. While not having the pre-teens around will certainly change the dynamics of the classroom, it allows the nineteen 6-9 year-olds to rule the roost, so to speak.

Despite the supply fee, we did have a few items to purchase (or round up around the house or reuse from last year). For the most part they needed a change of clothes, inside shoes, rainboots, gardening gloves, a yoga mat, and a backpack. Satchel was the only one who really needed a backpack, but I went ahead and got Jiro one too in anticipation of (future camping trips and) his transition to elementary next year.

Jiro is really funny about his backpack. He doesn't want to put anything in it, but he wants to wear it. (No, it isn't one of those gigantic heavy ones.) Satchel's not much different. Yesterday when I picked them up and they handed me all of the things they had made in aftercare, I suggested putting everything in their backpacks. They just looked at me like I was crazy. Like why wouldn't I want to carry everything for them?

Every year the kids are asked to sign up to be ambassador for one week during each semester. This year Satchel wanted to be the very first ambassador. (Jiro chose the second week since someone beat him to the first week.) This means that Satchel will provide flowers, morning snack, and crickets (for the reptiles) this week. He will also get to have special duties in his class, like giving tours to visitors, etc.

Chef Stephen (Hassinger) is back in the kitchen this year, but he is alternating days with another talented parent, so he'll be cooking MWF and Mathilde's mom will be cooking T,TH. (The kids reported eating pasta yesterday with fresh vegetables.) Parents are invited to come to lunch anytime and soon we'll get menus a week in advance so that we can plan our visits. (I may end up being a regular!)

The homework calendar was nixed this year, which I'm actually happy about. Last year it started out great--basically Satchel did five daily chores around the house and then reported them on his calendar each week. His enthusiasm soon waned however, and it became a chore for me to get him complete the calendar. The only homework we can expect this year is 30 minutes of required reading (his choice) and possibly some spelling/grammar worksheets.

It's sure to be a great year and I'm looking forward to getting to know the other parents better and participating in special events. I'm already working with Satchel's teacher to plan their first field trip!