And So It Begins...

I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding 4th grade hard enough.
- Regina, age 10, as found at http://www.brownielocks.com/teachingquotes.html

Today is the day - the first day of school.

I've raised my concerns, and met all parties involved. For the record, I think Helena's teacher will be okay. The case manager too, though she is getting her feet wet in a new position (did I mention she does bring 5 years special ed experience to the table?).

The first day is always chaotic at our school. Most parents opt to bring their kids to school that first day, to make sure their children know where to go and to meet the teachers, usually for the first time. So traffic is always a nightmare, even when the entire school is not under construction. The first fall we were here, we timed it to arrive 20 minutes before school started, and ended up 20 minutes late.

You know what they say" "Fool me once..."

Since then we have timed it to arrive about 30 minutes before school, and have had a much easier time. This year, we increased it to 45.

Things actually ran smoothly, as is usually the case when you have to actually plan around something. The police were directing traffic, and plenty of school officials and construction workers were directing people and traffic on the school grounds. Kids were taken to their classrooms safely, letters about the children's diet were passed out, and the school psychologist, with whom Helena gets along with well, assured me that things will be okay.

Umm...okay, I guess.

There's still no swing on the temporary playground, but the swings at the K-2 playground are still there. Maybe, just maybe, Helena can have a little swing time???

I pick them up in two hours. We'll see how the first day really went...

Construction clipart courtesy of http://www.webweaver.nu/