Yesterday was the first day of school. Jack started first grade (full days, finally!) and Katie went into third.
Victor and I escorted them through the crowd and they made it safely in the front door. Jack waved good-bye to us over his shoulder as he ran off to see his friend Alec. He is soooo excited that Alec is in his class again, after a whole year of them being apart. Katie gave kisses and hugs and clung to us; she was happy to be at school but that girl knows how to say good-bye to her mom and dad.
Yesterday Katie was our favorite, easily.
After getting them settled in with their new teachers, Vic and I worked in a second grade classroom for a couple hours. We set up file folders, taped number lines to desks, put away the supplies for the year, collected tech fees and lunch money and a ton of forms, and even did the Pledge of Allegiance with the kids. (I remembered it, but I still want to say “Amen” at the end.) I’m going back this morning for more of the same. It really is pretty fun. Eventually I’ll be working in my own kids’ classrooms.
The kids rode the school bus home yesterday. Being the first day, I think the buses were running a little later than usual and I stood out front and watched for the kids’ arrival home (well, I listened—I usually hear them before I see them). Eventually Katie, Jack, Kailey and Lauren rounded the corner, walking abreast—which is nothing like walking a dog—and it looked unbelievably oh-so-sweet. Because if this year’s like the past few, by this afternoon they’ll be chasing each other with worms or screaming names at one another or pretending they don’t know each other. Dawn and I have made a rule that all the kids must stick together walking to and from the bus stop. It’s our own version of No Child Left Behind except we expect our rule to be more effective than the worthless thing for which it’s named. Let’s see how long it takes for our standards to be criticized and then ignored, shall we?
Best thing about the school year so far: none of those little booger-eaters have called me Chewbacca yet. They must have noticed my clean, close shave.
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Thanks! –Jen