10.18.2013

School Days

This fall has brought about a great deal of change for our family. The boys have started attending a new school. Our church has launched a new location, and we are a part of the start-up team. We have a new church small group meeting at our house one night a week. And I've started teaching the pre-k kids class on Sunday mornings. We've known for several months that these changes were coming, so we certainly weren't caught off-guard by anything, but it has taken some adjusting nonetheless.
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The boys ready for their meet the teacher/school orientation night.
At the beginning of this year, I began re-evaluating the boys' school situation. While Roo hadn't started yet, Alex was in his second year at one of the mothers' day out/preschools here. We liked the school he was attending just fine, and we LOVED his teachers. But I began to feel that my sweet little creature of comfort needed a program that offered more in terms of opportunity and learning exposure so that he could be comfortably nudged out of his comfort zone to try new things and build his confidence.

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After doing some online research about various schools in the area, I set up appointments to visit two new schools and to revisit the school he had been attending. Visiting the schools confirmed the decision to move him.
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He is now in a three-day program that teaches music, Spanish, chapel, and has a weekly science workshop. Oh, and they do lots of art projects, which I especially love. He has made some wonderful new friends, and we've even been able to schedule play dates with a couple of them. He has settled right in to his Honey Bear class.
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First day of school for this little four-year old Honey Bear.

I was positive that Roo would like being at the same school as Alex. I just wasn't sure if he was going to like being in his own class. Turns out, he LOVES Ms. Michele. He'd go to see her every day if he could. He is so proud to walk in and play with his friends. And I love that this new school has a two-way mirror so that I can watch him from the hallway when I go to pick him up. He is always engaged during story time, and, when they sing songs and do motions, he is following right along with the teachers with all the spunk and joy I would expect to see from him. It is precious!
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We decided to enroll him two days a week, and he comes with me to Bible Study Fellowship once a week. He enjoys being there, too. It gives him a chance to see some of his friends from the church campus we used to attend.
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First day of school - 2 years.

So after these first couple of months, we have fallen back into a nice routine. We are adjusting well to the change, and it makes my heart smile to know the boys are in a school where they are well loved and loving what they're learning.

3 comments:

Allyson said...

Ahh! These pictures! You have such a gift, friend. So glad your boys are loving school, no doubt their teachers are loving them :-)

Tanna said...

Great photos of your boys. They are such handsome subjects, too! ;) xoxoox

Lauri said...

Ditto what Allyson said about your amazing photos -- such a gift!!

I was SO excited to see your post about the new school and to read that your sweet boys have settled right in. I know how challenging it can be to make such big changes, and I'm so happy the transition has gone so smoothly for y'all!

I have been terrible about staying in touch and keeping up with blog comments, etc, but I am so thankful to have these little glimpses into your life lately. You and your precious family are on my mind all the time. Miss and love you guys!!