1st day of Kindergarten

Before school out in front of our house

with his best buddy Bobby.

Poor kid has such crazy hair because we couldn't get into the haircutting place on Monday -- it was too busy. Then I noticed in all of his pictures the right leg of his shorts is turned up and it was like that all day.

I didn't even notice -- oh well!

The sign.

The kindergartners are taken to the library every morning

and that is where their teachers pick them up.

After school in the hallway.

In front of the school with his carpool buddies.

Z's first day of kindergarten was on Tuesday, August 25th. He was excited and scared at the same time. I don't think he was too nervous to start school, but he was scared about having to learn everything in Spanish. We decided to put him in a Spanish Immersion Class (SPLASH) at the elementary school. It is a new program where the kids learn everything in Spanish (it started last year so there is now a 1st grade class). The teacher is from South America as well as a teacher's assistant. The class is taught only in Spanish -- very, very, very little English is spoken. On the way in he asked me how you ask to go to the bathroom in Spanish. I explained that his teacher won't expect him to speak in Spanish until he knows how to. I think that made him feel better :) His school day starts at 7:45 (oh so early for us) and he gets out at 2:45 and there is no short day (actually there are about 3 throughout the year on random days). They have a staggered start day, which means that only 1/2 of the kindergartners go on the 1st day and then the rest the 2nd and then everyone goes the 3rd day.

The whole family went to drop him off. There is little parking and it was a little crazy, but we made it on time. We took a few pictures then dropped him off in the library. They do not let them stay outside, so all the kids are in the building (the K in the library and the rest of the kids in the gym -- all sitting quietly) and the teachers come to pick them up. We thought we would be able to walk him to class, but no other parents were waiting with their kids, so we gave him hugs and kisses and sent him into the library. He sat by a friend from church and immediately opened his lunch to check it out :) Jer, B and I just waited outside the library for a bit and watched him through the window. He was so brave and did great. I only had a few tears as we walked away. I think sending him to preschool last year (which was like K -- 3 hours, 5 days a week) helped me prepare for this year.

He had a good day, but he did say his teacher wasn't like Mrs. Darlene (his preschool teacher). When I questioned him, he just said that he had to be quiet in the hall and had to stay in a straight line. He told me he got a consequence for talking in line which turned out that his teacher just told him to stop talking -- not really a consequence :) In K, as well as in his preschool class, they have colors that they need to stay on ... so green means he is doing great, then yellow, then red is in trouble. He never even went in yellow in preschool (which he was very proud of) so I think he is already worried that he is going to get in trouble in K, because his teacher is more strict. I think he will be fine though :) He loved to tell me about recess (they only get one) and about lunch. He couldn't remember too much more than that :)

Good Job Z -- we are very proud of you!! B and I missed you so much during your long day away from us!