Day Two

Today only Arlington went to school.  Our new school district divides that Kindergarten kids up and sends one half the first day and the other half the second day.  It is a big class (5 kindergartens and over 100 kids) so they like to ease the kids into the school year.

So today, Finley and Cainan were home with me.  I had a hard time getting the kids out of bed today - school had done them in already.  It was another rainy day which always makes it interesting at the bus stop.  Once Arlington was gone, the littles and I returned home and had to spend most of the day indoors due to the weather.

Today Arlington had another great day at school.  She learned a few more kid's names.  She seems to be coming along socially.  Arlington has never been worried about who she should sit with at lunch, or who she should play with.  She will sit with and play with whomever is willing.  And she doesn't mind sitting or playing with kids she doesn't even know.  Her feelings do not get hurt easily and she is quick to forgive.  She makes a great friend.

She talked a very long time about her day today.  She was very excited because she achieved role model status today, which is the highest you can get in her class.  The teacher has set up a chart in her class - role model is the highest......calling your parents is the lowest.  There are 4 levels in between.  Depending on how your day is, the kids have to move their clip in one direction or the other.  When we toured the class, I told Arlington her clip better never been in the "calling your parents" section.  So today she was so happy to be at the higest level.  She got to put a special "sparkle bead" on her clip.  If she gets 5, she gets a special prize.  She could hardly contain her excitement.

I didn't completely understand HOW she achieved this today, but it had something to do with winning a spelling contest.  I find this interesting because Arlington is not the best speller.  She is must too worried about the content of her story to worry about how the words are spelled.  But today, she did great.  We are really proud of her and hope it continues.

She just talked and talked about her day.  She does really love school.  She loves all parts of it.  Even the boring worksheets.  She sees them as a game.  I hope she always keeps this love of learning, and that she rubs off on her brother and sister.

Tomorrow it is everyone back to school.  We are getting into a routine now.  We are starting to get busy with making after school activity schedules and volunteer activities.  Arlington has signed up for Chess, Tennis, and Brownies.  Finley is signing up for Daisies and we are working on getting piano lessons started.  She wants to take an art class, but they are really expensive.  Cainan is signed up for Karate and will be going back to Kumon enrichment classes.  I have signed up to volunteer at the school and will be teaching a braille letter to Finley's class each Monday, and helping in the health office with screenings in a few weeks.  I have also joined the garden club and am going to be helping out at a local Consignment sale in a few weeks.

So we are keeping busy.  It is still hard to believe that it is September.  Before we know it....it will be Christmas.