Back to School

We have finished two weeks of school and so far so good. The open house and meet the teachers didn't go so well for Colin.  I sorta felt the same.   I've never seen him so sad to start school. Maybe we should've just skipped it this year.  He begged and begged me to homeschool him this year.  I told him that was always an option but he had to try it. Then he tried to get me to homeschool him and Matthew down the street.  They at least have technology together and the school year is going ok for both of them so far. I asked the other day if he still wanted me to homeschool him and he said no that he would miss a lot. 

A rough night called for ice cream.  And an SOS text to his old English teacher to cheer Colin up.  At the end of their conversation Colin was feeling better about school.

For the first time ever Joel has the same teacher Colin had.  We knew there was a chance since Joel is in gifted like Colin and there are two gifted teachers.  He got the same one (which is the one who gives the least amount of homework so he was happy) Its amazing though in 3 years what can change because Joel does all his homework on google classroom which Colin never did.

This one was the most nervous.  She has a brand new school that still isn't really done. The teachers got into the building a few days before school started.  I was in the building the first week of school helping the librarian unbox all the books so Norah knew I was in the building and that helped her transition.  Her teacher is on our swim team. We don't know her very well because her kids are older and she goes to the night practices but that helped Norah feel safe with her right away. And when they walk down to their classroom she can greet her teacher with a fist bump, hug, dance, high 5 and something else and Norah always does a big hug so that's helping her a lot. Its all open concept school very few walls - 4 classes to a "neighborhood." Norah cried for a few days that it wasn't safe so we are working with her that the new building is much safer than the old one

Its going better than he thought. Not as good as 7th grade was but maybe that'll make going to high school more appealing next year. 

Half of Joels friends ended up in the other class.  So he wasn't too excited about going to school but its going better and he gets to see his other friends at recess and PE. He's also become so social and organizing friends to meet up together afterschool.

And this sweet girl.  We are so proud of her.  She had several meltdowns about school and begged to go see her counselor.  Which we may do to keep a handle on things but she has managed to hop out of the car and confidently walk into the building each day.  AND shes eating lunch with her friends! That was huge and shes so proud of her self.  Last year she sat at the parents table and cried most of the year if I wasn't there. My friend Holly told me she was telling Norahs story to one of the top leaders in education in Chesapeake and the person told her we were doing everything right for Norah so that helped us because sometimes I don't know how much we should coddle her because her fear is deep and very real.  They have to have 2 lock down drills this month so her teacher is aware and so is the administration of Norahs fear.  Once we get through that hurdle I think I can relax.

I will never take for granted any morning that she hops out of the car with a smile.